Dear Jacquelyn,

I’m a freshman in college and this is the first time I’ve had a roommate. I’m having trouble adjusting because we have drastically different social lives and study habits. Our dorm room is small and we can’t seem to get out of each other’s way. What can I do to survive living with my roommate?

Dear Reader,

First-year students like you have a lot on their minds: making new friends, navigating the campus and choosing a major.

There’s so much more to this monumental change than the hours spent in the classroom. An essential part of the college experience is learning to live away from home for the first time.

Not everyone’s study habits are the same. Talk with your roommate about your studying preferences.

Whether you prefer the quiet retreat of a dorm room, or collaborating with a study group, you’ll need to find a place to concentrate and focus. It’s smart and a good idea to have a variety of places to work outside of your dorm room. This will take some pressure off.

Talk to your roommate in advance when you have a big paper or exam coming up. This will help offset any possible ugly confrontations. If you aren’t able to find peace and quiet in your dorm room, perhaps you can compromise and study in the library or student center.

As you adjust and learn about each other’s schedules, you’ll find the right combination that won’t interfere with each of your quiet-time needs. Know when your dorm-room mate has to get up early for class or work. Be respectful of sleep schedules as well.

Use this as an opportunity to learn responsibility, compromise and effective communication.

Respectfully Yours,

Jacquelyn

Have a question? Email: jacquelyn@ptd.net. Jacquelyn Youst is owner of the Pennsylvania Academy of Protocol, specializing in etiquette training.

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