By Tytianna Wells
Incoming freshmen are confronted with academic and social issues that challenge their “new freedom” on campus. Without a physical support system that routinely irons clothes, cooks dinner and sprinkles kisses on the forehead, some students may be left feeling frustrated by the mere thought of a new school, a new curriculum and a new roommate.
The University of Louisville freshmen orientation allows students to visit campus dormitories for housing selection, while subsequently encouraging students to contact their future roommate. The experience can enliven one’s social life, aiding the transition from dependency to independence, while accessing a diverse campus community. It is important to set ground rules, expectations and anticipations for college dorm life.
“Sit down with your roommate and discuss what bugs you and doesn’t bug you,” said Ashton Seward, a Residential Assistant and junior psychology major. This could diminish future problems such as excessive noise or distraction in the housing complex.
Speaking from experience, her own freshman dorm experience wasn’t the best. According to Seward, who selected a friend as her roommate, said everything went downhill from there, including the close friendship.
“Our ideas of normal sleeping patterns and studying were not compatible at all,” said Seward. During her second year, matters got worse. “My second roommate brought in different people all the time. When she’d leave the room, things went missing.”
To deal with this situation, Seward took the initiative to visit the campus Counseling Center.
According to counselor Sheena Binford, who has her master’s in science and social work, “The Counseling Center is a free support system for students, for those who struggle with many issues on campus, such as ways to deal with roommates.”
After attending a few of these sessions, Seward said she has developed patience, and is able to reflect on her dorm life without regret, but with laughter. Since her experience, she has devoted her spare time to being an RA.
Seward said her reason is “to relate to other girls who have roommate problems.”
It’s important to know that dorm life can be either negative or positive, depending on the many issues that first year students face.
Juanita Scott, a senior Pan-African studies and Latin American studies major, wasn’t able to choose her roommate during her freshman year.
However, when she was able to contact her roommate for the first time, there was a misunderstanding.
“She thought I was white while we were on the phone,” said Scott. “She asked later on, whether I was white or black.”
This situation represents one’s comfort level, which minimizes and possibly rejects the multifaceted student body on campus.
Students should acknowledge the many racial, ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds, and take full advantage of the learning experience.
According to Scott, “You’re going to meet everybody and getting to know people will make school easier.” Scott and her roommate developed a strong friendship over the years.
Not only is having a room- mate and communicating effectively with a roommate a challenge, homesickness is too.
The feeling of being homesick is completely normal and can be solved in many ways, such as decorating one’s dorm room to represent hobbies, interests and other aspects of individual uniqueness.
This creates a feeling of comfort, which makes it more like home.
“I had a lot of pictures of family and friends, along with personal letters that were sent to me posted on my dorm walls,” said Seward. “I kept [my dorm room] a lot like my room at home, with a blue and green color scheme.”
The most popular items for college dorms are accented bed spreads, curtains and lamps.
Dorm checklists can be found online to help verify needs and wants for dorm living, as well as items that may be prohibited, such as candles or space heaters.
