Dorm Roommates - The Pros And Cons

Relocating to college means a lot of adjustments. One of the greatest of them, especially for an only child, is acquiring a roommate or two. There are quite a few benefits and handicaps to having a roommate, a number of which I wanted to talk about.
Pros-Someone to talk to at all hours of the day, a friend to hang out with, eat with, study with; more clothing-if you and your roommate really get along, your wardrobe may have doubled in size; company if you are feeling down or homesick. Cons-There is ALWAYS someone there, if you two don't get along, spending time in the dorm can have possible awkward moments; lack of space-with two or more people in one room space can be crammed with no alone time. Although there are many pros and cons to living in the dorms with a roommate, there are great and simple ways to cope and make the best of the situation.
Don't be anxious to talk to your roommates if a problem occurs. You are much better off talking about it (even if it's a little awkward) than keeping it trapped inside and inevitably exploding and ruining the possible friendship. Try to respect your roommate's privacy and your personality distinctions. You can't expect to get along perfectly with your roommate. Just like siblings, there will be ups and downs. It's imperative for you to remember that you are different and that's okay. Give space when needed. Just because you live with this person doesn't mean that you need to always hang out with them. And it's okay to have other friends, in fact, it really is encouraged. Having different groups of friends is very important. People change and you never know what will happen so don't be dependent on one person or one group of friends. Explore and socialize!
I hope that I didn't scare you away or made you nervous to have a roommate. I loved my adventure with a roommate. Sure, we had our ups and downs but between sharing a bathroom and everything we did throughout college, we are still friends even now.
A few of the most exciting and life changing things could happen to you during college, so get the most out of the time you have with your roommates. And remember, if you just do not relate with your roommate, it's always okay to request a switch. Contact your housing person in charge and they can facilitate the change. Otherwise, make new friends and new experiences.