Among the horror stories you’ll hear about college, the ones about the dormmate from hell are by far the most popular. From unhygienic habits to sneakily stealing your stuff, annoying dormmates have a special way of creeping into your hearts and making it turn black with angst. Most students who get stuck with such dormmates do not think twice about transferring residence halls, and some even transfer schools!
But before you get scared into sharing a room with a dormmate, you should also know that there ARE people out there who make good dormmates. As long you establish and maintain a good relationship with your roommate, dorm life may even be a rewarding and good learning experience for you. To ensure that you make the most out of college dorm life, below are some tips that should be real easy to follow:
Establish spatial boundaries and respect them
One easy way to avoid petty fights with dormmates is by respecting their personal space, both spatial and emotional. Clearly, your dormmate’s bed is not the place for you to put heaps of your stuff. And obviously, your dormmate will be mad if you “borrow” their laptop for two days without asking permission. Establishing spatial boundaries may be a bit too awkward for some, but this can be an effective way to keep your stuff organized and to prevent your dormmate’s stuff from getting mixed with yours. That way, you both know that each of you are responsible for your own things and no one is in charge of keeping the whole room spick and span.
Be sensitive to their quirks and irks
By quirks and irks, we mean the things that they’re into and the things that make them tick. If your dormmate’s a vegetarian or hard-core vegan, have the decency to not joke about his or her beliefs and leave bloody pieces of meat on the desk or sofa. The same goes for religious and political beliefs. If you want your dormmate to respect the fact that you actually like spending Friday and Saturday nights studying undisturbed in the room, you should also learn to respect whatever eccentricities and traits they have.
Photo credit : unwritten
