Alright, I suppose that this is a pressing issue. For me, I lived with my family for 18 years so I was really nervous about finding out who I was going to be living with. I remember sending in my deposit for Gonzaga and receiving all the surveys that came along with registering for classes and finding a roommate. I filled it out very carefully and tried to ensure that I would get a roommate who was just like me. When I got the confirmation e-mail with the name of my roommate in late July/early August, I took his name and did what most people would. . . . I did some research on Facebook!

Nate, the great roommate; that is who I was matched up with. We were both Business majors but lived very different lifestyles. I was definitely in the dorm room more often than he was but when he was there we seemed to get along. Living with your family for a long time allows you to get adjusted to the way that they live. Getting a new roommate was a little intimidating at first – you definitely keep your side neat at least for the first week. Nate and I got along and tried to help each other with homework and such. Before coming to Gonzaga, we talked on the phone and decided who was bringing what and, luckily for me, Nate brought a refrigerator, microwave, and a tv.

Living with Nate was interesting to say the least. He was one of those people who simply “visited” the room and when we saw each other around campus, we would yell each other’s name out loud. I wouldn’t say that we were the best of friends, but that was okay! Look, the truth is most of the time your roommate will not become your best friend. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, that’s the way it happens. But the whole reason for living in a dorm and a residence hall is getting the opportunity to meet new people! Roommates teach you a lot about yourself. They teach you about respect for other people and their belongings, about meeting new people and adjusting your lifestyle to accomodate for their’s, and they help you become comfortable with confrontation and communication.

Your first roommate is definitely a special one, and whenever I see Nate, I definitely get flashbacks of moving in and meeting new people – and I am grateful. Don’t be afraid to try something new, to leave the comfort of your home, and take those first steps into the real world.

Ruben ’14
Accounting and Human Resource Management