Making the best out of a bad roommate

For many freshmen, living in a dorm will be the first time they reside with someone that is not a member of their family. Roommates can be randomly selected or could be a friend from home; they may turn out to be a new best friend or someone you never talk to again.

Taylor Summers, freshman child development major, said she has always been told not to live with your best friend because you will end up hating each other by the end of the year.

“When one of my close friends and I found out we both accepted to East Carolina University, we decided that we wanted to room together. It was good in the beginning, and then we began drifting apart and things between us were not going to well,” said Summers.   

Halfway through the year, Summers’ roommate moved out. Summers said the space helped save their friendship.  

“We are still good friends, but the split was definitely needed. I am very excited to move into an apartment next year with some of the girls I have gotten really close to from my hall,” said Summers.

Random selection can be a terrifying idea to many students. The outcome can be a great experience or a nightmare.   

Freshmen roommates Carly Bryant, fashion merchandising major, and Maddy Minnick, psychology major, first met each other through a mutual friend when they lived right across the hall from each other.

“I got along well enough with my former roommate, but she wasn't able to come back for the spring semester. I asked Maddy if she wanted to room with me instead since she did not necessarily get along well with her roommate at the time,” said Bryant.

Minnick moved in with Bryant second semester and the two have lived together without issues this semester.

“I was so relieved to switch roommates and move in with Carly. Now looking back I do not know how I could have made it through the rest of the year had I not changed rooms,” said Minnick.

Some freshmen are not so lucky for their first year living situations. Samuel Hall, freshman English education major, said that he had a total of five different roommates since the beginning of the year.

“I really got unlucky with my living situations honestly,” said Hall. “My first roommate and me really did not see eye to eye, and he ended up moving out. My second roommate felt that ECU was not the college for him and left. However, my recent roommate was a great roommate, but he got deployed.”

Hall said even though he did not have the best rooming situations living with random roommates really helped him learn new things and helped him gain experience with getting to know people.

“Next year I will be a resident assistant, and I am really looking forward to meeting all the incoming freshman. I feel that I can be a mentor to them, especially with opening themselves up to meeting new people,” said Hall.

Even though living with a roommate for the first year may be nerve wrecking for students, resident assistants are also anxious to make sure roommates are happy and comfortable in their living arrangements.

Katelyn Waldrop, senior education major, said that as an RA, she has seen residents go through a lot during their freshman year as roommates.

Waldrop’s advice for roommates is to think of your roommate situation as a growing experience whether you liked it or not.

“I have had residents in the past who become complete best friends sophomore year and end up moving in with each other when they get an apartment and I have seen others who haven't spoken to their roommate since freshman year,” said Waldrop. “Whether you choose to be best friends or would rather stay apart, that person will always be your freshman year roommate.”