The semester has finally gotten going, as many students are adjusting to their class schedules, study habits and living arrangements. Though this time can be exciting and relaxing, setting into the realities of the semester can also come with troubling realizations.
Living with strangers or even friends can be difficult, especially when most students come from relatively familiar and comfortable environments. Sharing one small room with another person is difficult during freshman year, and many students long for independence in their own rooms in the latter years of their time in school.
The tough reality of this situation is that moving into an apartment often adds more pressure and stress for students as they begin to share more common spaces. Though living in a small area has its own difficulties, living in an apartment comes with arguments over chore schedules, cabinet space, decor and guests in the home, creating tension between even the closest of friends.
The stress that this adds to everyday life, on top of the workload and anxieties of students, is the last thing that one should be concerned about. However, it is common among students.
Of a study sampling “31,500 students, (it was) found that almost half, or 47.9%, ‘reported ‘frequent’ or ‘occasional’ conflict with their roommates or housemates,’” according to the Journal of Public Health Student Capstones.
It is essential to remember amongst these struggles that this difficulty is common and not necessarily a problem with you or your friends, but rather just a typical obstacle in this way of life. In order to combat this issue, there are a number of helpful solutions to decompress the situation.
Communication sounds like an obvious solution, but in actuality, many people tend to be passive in these situations. Having open conversations about misunderstandings or difficulties will not only help resolve the issue but also make everyone aware of your headspace. Be sure to establish boundaries. Sit down with your roommates and make one another aware of what you are or aren’t comfortable with.
As an individual, you can be mindful of your surroundings; try to be considerate of the space you share. Clean up after yourself, act with your guests how you wish your roommates would act with theirs and consider the perspective of your fellow roommates.
The most important aspect to remember is that this experience is normal, and you will get through it. Just because you are experiencing this doesn’t mean that you or your roommate are intentionally harming the other, as these are just difficulties that come with the territory.
Kylie Tutterrow is a junior political science major from Spartanburg, South Carolina. Kylie can be reached at [email protected]
