Tips for Living in Community
Going away to college may be one of the most exciting periods of your life. It can also be one of the scariest. Not only are you leaving your home and your family, possibly the only roommates you've ever known, but you may be moving in with a stranger who doesn't know your habits, your pet peeves, your stories. Not to worry. We're here to help make the transition as smooth as possible.
COMMUNICATE & COMPROMISE
Communicate to Understand:
Open and honest communication is key in building a positive and successful relationship. Take some time and talk over the course of a few days and see if other questions come up. Also talk about how you would like to be talked to and how you talk to others when there is a problem or conflict. Living together can be stressful and knowing how the other person operates means that you can resolve conflicts before they grow too large.
COEXIST
Don't expect your roommate to be your best friend. Consider your roommate someone you need to be friendly to and to get along with. If you don't feel like your roommate is your best friend, that is totally normal and sometimes for the best. You also don't need to feel obligated to spend time together outside of the room.
TO SHARE, OR NOT TO SHARE
What are your thoughts about sharing? Just because you are sharing a room, doesn’t mean you want to share other things. Talk about what you want to share and what you want of your own. Can you share a TV? Computer? Refrigerator? What about clothes, appliances or food? Setting these boundaries early can avoid later conflicts.