Things You'll Need:
- Your Sanity
- Well sharpened axe (just kidding)
- somewhat decent, adult-like communication skills
-
Step 1
Not everyone is like you!
So, for some people, being 18 years old and still sleeping with some kind of stuffed animal/doll is deemed, "ok." Don't get mad at this ridiculousness, find the humor. I'm not suggesting getting in someone's face and laughing at them, but keep a light-hearted attitude about your roommate's peculiar differences. I remember my freshman year roommate had some doll he (yes, I said he...makes it even worse I know) slept with, or at least kept on his bed. I never made fun of him directly, but simply took his oddities as acceptable.
Also, you must understand that people are inherently different than you, and that they didn't just become annoying the moment you started living with them. They were like this LONG before. Don't get angry, just try to understand, and remember that this is the only year you have to live with this person! Take that into serious consideration before you go to choke your new roommate for leaving his/her clothes lying around. -
Step 2
Get Out by Yourself!
The tendency freshman year is to cling to your roommate like he/she is a life preserver. Don't do that! Using your roommate as a crutch will only weaken your ability to survive socially on your own.
Being attached at the hip can produce some serious disadvantages. Spending time with one person for an entire semester can lead to downright hatred of that person. You discover your incompatible differences at an exponential rate, making it severely difficult to resolve any conflicts because everything is thrown at you all at once. This often leads people to the realization that they may not like that person as much as they originally thought. First appearances can be deceiving!
Also, when trying to attract the opposite sex (a big part of college), having your roommate stuck with you can damage the possibility of developing a relationship. He/she may ruin your chances with that guy or girl simply because they interject with the stupidest comments you would have never thought to say yourself. They may also smell, I don't know. Poor smelling individuals can be a strong deterrent to the opposite sex.
You need to discover college on your own. It needs to be your experience, not yours and your roommate's together. Find a group of friends who you like to hang out with. Join some kind of club, or find an activity that separates you from him/her. Don't make your freshman roommate your immediate best friend because you may come to the conclusion that they're not as cool as you thought. Additionally, doing so could prohibit you from pursuing your own goals/activities while in college. -
Step 3
Separate homework from social life!
Trying to study in your dorm room while your roommate is blasting music can be utterly annoying. Don't study in your room just to be near your roommate, or just for the sake of being in your room. Sometimes having a roommate can be distracting to your study habits.
Peoples' schedules are often different, where one person is usually studying while the other is watching tv. Don't let that other person's schedule interfere with your work.
Go to the library, a classmate's dorm, whatever you need to do to get out of your room and keep from being distracted. Believe me, trying to study for calculus and playing Play Station 2 at the same time is no easy task, and I can bet I know where more attention is paid.
