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Almost every college grad has a first-year roommate horror story. From the roommate who sleepwalks to the one who constantly spouts radical viewpoints to the one who delights in cooking only the most pungent ethnic dishes, roommates often run the gamut from bad to worse. Of course, given that most first-year roommates are assigned somewhat randomly, it's to be expected that the aforementioned horror stories could fill volumes.

As colleges and universities have become more adaptable to student needs, the option of not having a roommate has indeed become an option for many freshman. However, as with so many other first-year decisions, the question of whether or not to have a roommate cannot be answered without a weighing of the pros and cons. Despite the aforementioned pitfalls of roommate living, most students eventually find that a first-year roommate can produce more good than bad.

Due to the close link between the college experience and the transition into the real world, it's important for students to learn how to interact with diverse individuals. Having a first-year roommate is a crash course in interpersonal relations, a sort of bonding boot camp that forces one to adapt to others. In our increasingly individualized society, the finer points of human interaction seem to be lost on younger generations. Taking away the first-year roommate is akin to taking away some of the most important social lessons a young adult must learn. Respecting boundaries, learning to share, understanding another's point of view if these are first learned in kindergarten, they are pounded-in during the first year of college. Without a roommate, students miss out on a unique opportunity to socially mature.

In addition to providing life lessons on how to deal with others, having a roommate can also be a more overtly positive experience. Many lifelong friendships have sprung from shared living arrangements, and many more important contacts have been made. Moreover, roommates give one a built-in buddy system, providing a shoulder to cry on or a late-night listener. If shared experiences are the basis for fulfilling relationships, few relations have more potential than the one shared with a roommate.

Naturally, conflict is almost always a part of any roommate situation. However, handling conflict is a skill every adult needs, especially in today's uncertain and stressed-out times. Having a roommate teaches one how to anticipate, diffuse, and move beyond conflict. Without a roomie, students may believe they are the center of their own universe.

There is no such thing as the perfect roommate or the problem-free roommate situation, and this is actually a good thing. Students, especially today's young adults, must realize that self-centeredness will not get them far after graduation. Dealing effectively with others is essential to success in general, and first-year roommates provide an excellent opportunity to perfect this important skill.

Learn more about this author, Robyn Keyster.
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