Everyone has had to meet their college roommate for the first time and here at Cabrini University it’s no different. Maybe you are lucky enough to know your roommate before hand or even be great friends with them but more than likely it will be someone you’ve never met before. Here are five tips to help this Fall semester.
For some people the second they find out who their roommate is they contact them immediately. This is a great first step into becoming great roommates. Communicating who is bringing what and just introducing yourself is a great first step in becoming more comfortable and friendly.
Being a shy person is never a bad thing but being open to new things will always be helpful. Your new roommate could have a completely different set of beliefs or culture so being open to what they believe in will help you grow closer.
Be respectful and friendly. This is an easy one but meeting someone for the first time can be awkward but getting over the awkwardness by being polite will go a long way. If your new roommates first impression of you is that you are nice and respectful, they might think you two will get along perfectly.
Keep your things on your side of the room. It’s your first year of college so you may not know what to bring so you might think it is a good idea to bring everything. Feel free to do that but soon you will learn that you may not have the amount of space you thought you would have.
This is where your organization becomes very important. You have your side of the room and your roommate has there’s. There isn’t a lot of space as it is in freshman dorms but if your side is overflowing to your roommates’ side that could make them upset and cause tension.
The last tip is to enjoy the new experience and the time you have. At first, things might seem difficult, but you’ll soon get into a daily routine and things may get boring. Make sure to keep things interesting with your new roommate by going to events together such as sports games or events held by school clubs.
A Residents Assistant is always there to help you with any problems you may face. They will speak to you in the beginning of the semester and lay the ground rules.
“Watching over first year students can be challenging but, in the end, it is something I enjoy and having a friendly relationship with my residents is key to a good semester,” said fourth floor RA Teresita Viveros. “It is my job to make sure all freshman have a great first year experience.” RA’s are here to help so if they are ever needed don’t hesitate.
“Being a freshman is difficult because you go from being the oldest to the youngest,” said Freshman Matt Duddy. “Meeting my roommate was a fun and interesting experience because he’s on the soccer team with me so it makes everything easier by giving us something to relate with.” Of course, being a freshman is difficult but by following the 5 basic steps, it will make the process easier.
