I have finally finished this semester and leave tomorrow to go home. I can't believe my freshman year of college is already over! It has been a very challenging and influential experience. While my roommate and I were not the perfect pair, we definitely learned things from each other along the way. After all, with me drying my hair at six o'clock in the morning, she basically had her own personal alarm clock! I also saved her from getting fat by eating most of the sweets she bought. And now she can say she knows that if you leave potato soup out for a couple days it will turn neon pink. I would say that that particular piece of wisdom will definitely come in handy!  

Through the course of this year, we both learned how to "[acclimate] to the quirks of a complete stranger" which is "an essential part of [the] college experience" (Garber-Paul). After all, when we are out in the real world we are going to be working with people we don't get along with. Being able to work with others is an essential quality that many employers specifically seek out, and as an extension of working well with others, being able to tolerate the complete opposite of you for nine months is quite an accomplishment. Rooming with a stranger may seem uncomfortable, but being able to tolerate people who don't quite share the same opinions as you can help you learn how to compromise with others. While earlier in the year I was careless about leaving things out, I have become more considerate. After all, it wasn't completely fair to leave messes on my side of the room while Rose kept her side so clean. We both pushed each other out of our comfort zones; because we didn't get along perfectly, we both joined separate organizations and met new people. Even if we didn't become best friends or anything, I would say we both benefitted from each other along the way.  

In need of roommate advice?  

In the end, we are left with the question, “Do you [room with] people who are similar -- or different, so they can learn about each other?" (Hardigg and Nobile). While I cannot make this decision for others, I do not regret my decision to have a random roommate. My situation may not be ideal, but I find myself often putting myself in my roommate’s shoes because I often wonder how she views our situation.  Even though being paired with someone who is similar to you seems ideal, being paired with someone who is unlike you is beneficial because you can always learn things from someone else. After all, “we go to college not only for a degree but for the social connections,” so why not make them as diverse as possible (Altman)?
Further advice :P

Altman, Anna. "A College Education Should Include Rooming With a Stranger." OpTalk A College Education Should Include Rooming With a Stranger Comments. N.p., 07 Sept. 2014. Web. 09 Apr. 2015. <http://op-talk.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/07/a-college-education-should-include-rooming-with-a-stranger/?_r=0>.

Garber-Paul, Elisabeth. "The New Science of Pairing College Roommates." Rolling Stone. N.p., 19 Aug. 2014. Web. 09 Apr. 2015. <http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/the-new-science-of-pairing-college-roommates-20140819>.

Rose has become very passive aggressive lately. She's started staying up unreasonably late! It didn't bother me much before, but she has started listening to this aggravating music, which normally I would be able to tolerate, but I have to get up at 5 in the morning! After talking to her, we decided that she would use her earphones if I dried my hair in the downstairs bathroom. Which seems very reasonable, but I suspect she had that idea all along . . . 

I think Rose and I really need some space, so I decided to join the running club and I love it. I have met so many people, the only down side is I have to wake up at 5AM to go on runs because that was the only time I was free. I go back to my room around 6 to take a shower and blow dry my hair because the plug sockets are broken in the bathroom. Rose doesn't seem too pleased, but i can't leave my hair wet, I'll bet sick!

Bittersweet return after winter break. I am so happy to be back, but when I returned Rose was cleaning (which really shouldn't have been much of a surprise after the soup incident). I really should have offered to help, but she was in the zone. She had clorox wipes, a vacuum, and even swiffer sweepers! It seemed a bit excessive, but I have to admit the room looked cleaner than it had when we moved in. Finally I spoke up and asked why she was cleaning. Apparently it is a New Year's resolution. As long as it is HER New Year's resolution and I don't have to participate in the cleaning rituals I am okay with it. Now I don't have to worry about cleaning up after myself because I know she will do it anyway!

I am taking a photography class where I am assigned to take unusual photos that capture moments others may not be aware of. I have to admit that I did procrastinate a bit, although I was so busy earlier in the week. I had one day to complete the assignment so I decided to look around my room for some inspiration. I looked at the window, but I have seen too many cliché pictures of light coming through the window. My bed, no there wasn’t enough lighting. Rose’s side of the room, however, had perfect lighting. Rose was taking a nap and her snoring was interrupting my thought processes. I didn’t want to wake her up so I decided to look for places I could shoot. I looked all around then I decided her feet! Which may seem strange, but she has really clean feet. The light was right on them, so I decided to take a few pictures before she woke up. Not going to lie, they turned out really well!! 

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I have to admit I have become a bit careless when it comes to cleaning up, but with the end of the semester coming up I need all the time I can get to start studying for finals! Last week I had a huge test and hardly had time to eat! I made myself a bowl of potato soup, scarfed it down, and promised myself I would clean it later. Well, there wasn't much time later either. I stayed up all night studying for a biology test, then I had a math test to cram for the next day! I kind of forgot about the soup until Rose mentioned the terrible odor that was in our room. She started looking around for the source when I embarrassedly mentioned I left some soup out. I started clearing my desk in search of the soup and when I found it I was shocked, it was n e o n !! Rose didn't look very happy, but I thought the whole situation was hilarious! Of course, I had to throw it out while Rose went in search for some febreze.

Rose has the best food and it is always stocked up! I didn’t bring a car to college so I don’t go shopping very often, but I didn't think Rose would mind. I mean after all, think of all the calories I am saving her from! Well, she did mind, and she confronted me about it the other day. Apparently they were "expensive cookies" and i have "no right" to eat them without her permission. She is so defensive and serious; I mean, they are just cookies.