Students discuss qualities a good roommate should have

College can be a stressful time for students; they’re dealing with a new school, new classes, new teachers, new friends and, most importantly, new roommates.

College students can have their fair share of roommates, ranging from the absolute best to the unfortunate worst. Such experiences can affect their schoolwork, daily routine and social life.  

Sarah Avet, a clinical mental health counseling graduate student from Houma, has experienced the effects that having a good roommate versus a difficult roommate can do for her.

Avet said that when living with difficult roommates, it can affect a student’s overall mood and performance in school, while living with a good roommate can make their bad days good and good days better.

Avet said, “When living together, you don’t necessarily have to have a connection with your roommate, but you do need to be understanding and respectful of each other’s space and personal boundaries.”

Avet’s advice to maintain or develop a good relationship with a roommate is communication. According to Avet, communicating needs, likes and dislikes can improve the overall relationship.

Alex Aucoin, chemistry senior from Morgan City, encourages communication between roommates just like Avet.

Aucoin said working out problems with a roommate, instead of leaving feelings and thoughts left unsaid, is vital to having a good relationship with one another.

In Aucoin’s experience, having a good roommate leads to an increase in overall excitement for school. She said her current roommate is the best roommate experience she has had at Nicholls. While other roommates made her dread going back to her dorm, she looks forward to interacting with her current roommate.

“My current roommate is so nice and inspiring,” Aucoin said.

Since Avet is now living off-campus, she said students should be able to communicate and work together with their roommate before committing to a lease.

Living with a roommate is a major component of college life so it’s necessary for roommates to get along. Aucoin and Avet both said that having a good roommate is essential to having a good college experience.

If students living in student housing are having issues with their roommates, they can always contact their resident assistant. The housing department is there to help students and make their on-campus living experience better.