You may be having several siblings at home or, this is your first time to share a living space with a colleague. You have studied hard throughout your High School and achieved a good grade.
Now, it is time to join college, but you might be thinking about how to stay with your roommate. It is recommended to utilize this opportunity to stay harmoniously with the roommate, just the way you do it back at home with your parents and siblings.Below are ten tips for living with a college roommate:
01. Respect your roommate's stuff
You have to respect the roommate's stuff and do not tamper with anything. Be satisfied with what you have however little or more it is. Do not use the roommate's stuff without his/her permission. Feel free to ask him/her before you use the stuff.If you respect him/her, then he/she will do the same.
02. Start the conversation ASAP
What are you waiting for? Give him/her a greeting and start from there. Know each other, and you can discuss your High School experiences to keep the conversation burning.
03. Be clear about your expectations first (Do not expect BFF On day one)
Most first-year students do have too many expectations on their first day in college. Expect a good friend but do not immediately view him/her as your future best friend.This is to say that spend some time with him/her before you fully disclose all your life matters to him/her. Learn to know the roommate day by day until you become fully conversant with each other's behaviors.
04. Stay open to change
You are in a learning institution where you will meet people of different kinds. Listen to your roommate's concerns and change where it is appropriate. If you do this, your roommate will also do so.
05. Discuss bathroom habits.
Be open and tell the roommate your expectations when it comes to bathroom hygiene. Dedicate a shelve or place where you'll keep your toiletries and always maintain a high level of hygiene. It is alright to label the shelves where you keep your goods as this can work well when everybody does so.
06. Address problems when they are big or little
Speak up but do it responsibly. Your roommate may be forgetting his/her stuff for the shower and frequently use yours. Tell him /her what bugs you and please do it in a right tone. Your roommate will be aware of some things otherwise he/she would not known hence it advisable to address these issues so that you can stay in peace.
07.Lock the doors and windows.
Your goods are in one room, and you are responsible for your stuff. Make sure you close the doors and windows all the time you leave the room. Be accountable and make sure all of you have the keys to the doors.
08. Study habits matter.
Give the roommate ample time and conducive room to study. It is not right to open a loud music when your roommate is busy working on the mid term paper, essay or assignment of any kind. Most people do not like distractions when they are reading. It's simple; you can use earphones when he/she is working on the assignment to prevent any distraction you may cause.
09. Be watchful on whoever you welcome/bring to your room.
The college comprises of people with different characters and remembers, you are still new here. You may love to have a study group in your room, but your roommate may not like that. Schedule on who hits the library today and who reads in the room.
10. Address bad smells.
Bad smells can doom your relationships quickly and please set rules on food storage and eat in the room. Know who takes the trash out and when. If you do not like the smoke, the smell of his/her perfumes or any scent, speak up and find a way through which you square it well and peacefully.