Roommates can be your best friends, your worst enemies, or just people you share a room with.
Emma Stewart, an 18-year-old freshman history major, said roommates don’t always live up to expectations.
“For the most part you try and be friends with your roommate,” Stewart said. “You move in expecting to be best friends, and it’s kind of awkward when that doesn’t happen.”
For freshmen who are still getting the hang of the college life, roommates are sometimes the hardest obstacles. Sooner or later, your roommate may get on your nerves. It comes naturally with the close quarters and the stresses of school. So how are CU students dealing with their roommate issues?
A number of students said they are polite acquaintances with their roommates.
Devina Parmar, an 18-year-old freshman political science major, said she doesn’t often spend time with her roommate, although she knew her before moving in.
“We were friends, but not that close of friends so it’s not awkward,” Parmar said. “We go to dinner sometimes. We are really different, but it works out.”
Susan Steider, a 19-year-old sophomore history and English double-major, transferred from Minneapolis this year. Last year, as a freshman, she had three roommates. She said living with three other girls was difficult, particularly because one of her roommates had issues with cleanliness.
Steider said she is much happier living alone this year.
“We got along for the most part,” Steider said. “(However), living alone is a lot better. I have my own space that I can keep clean and organized.”
Alex Kiziah, an 18-year-old freshman electrical engineering major, lives in the residence halls but also said he prefers living alone.
“I used to be able to walk around my room naked, but now I can’t,” Kiziah said.
In addition to the fact that you have to live with a stranger in a small room, it may be that your roommate’s habits are odd and different. No matter what those habits may be, your roommate is eventually going to do something that will test you.
Contact CU Independent staff writers Amalia Arguello at Amalia.arguello@colorado.edu and Emma Franklin at Emma.franklin@colorado.edu.
