Roommates make it a point to get along

By Kelly Galvin
Reporter

The college experience would not be what it is today if it were not for those infamous roommate stories: the roommates that stay up all hours of the night, or the ones that have a boyfriend or girlfriend who seem to have moved in.

San Antonio junior Jessy Bookbinder holds a long list of arguments and compromises that she has had with past and present roommates, but says if she let every little fault of a roommate get to her, she would go crazy.

“For me it is all about picking and choosing your battles,” Bookbinder said.

Bookbinder referred to difficulties with her freshman roommate while explaining that their schedules were on opposite clocks.

“As I started to study around 9 p.m., she would be getting ready for bed,” Bookbinder said.

Bookbinder said she got through the year because she had grandparents who lived in town, and she would escape to their house when she needed space.

“They were my outlet, where I went to take a breath,” Bookbinder said.

But roommate situations don’t always have to be unfortunate. Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., junior Rachel Buehler met her best friend from going “pot luck,” where roommates are chosen randomly to live together, her freshman year. “We were both from California and just kind of clicked,” Buehler said.

Buehler admits there were times she and her roommate needed space and time to themselves, but to this day they are best friends.

“We still do everything together, and it seems like we have known each other all our lives,” Buehler said.

Bookbinder and Buehler are currently roommates and openly say there are times when they have both been annoyed with each other, but say they feel they can talk to each other and resolve their issues.

“Our reoccurring problem is the dishes,” Bookbinder said. “They seem to pile up, and no one takes responsibility for them.”

They both acknowledge that this is a problem, but always seem to get through it.

“We have figured out each other’s faults and now try to make a conscience effort to fix them,” Buehler said. “It’s all about give and take.”

Oklahoma City, Okla., junior Regan Nicewander, Buehler and Bookbinder’s third roommate, agreed with Buehler and recognized their issues, but said it wasn’t anything to break up their friendship.

“We all have our separate rooms, which helps when you need time to yourself, but we all seem to get along,” Nicewander said.

Bookbinder and Buehler both have boyfriends, which also seems to be a non-issue.

“They aren’t overwhelming,” Nicewander said. “They come and go, and don’t really make problems. They actually take out the trash and help around the house. It’s nice.”

Nicewander felt if she did have a problem with the boys, especially if they were starting to move in, she could talk to her roommates and resolve it fairly easily.

These women agreed that it’s all about respect and knowing when you’re wrong.

It’s easy enough to clean up your mess or buy more milk for the week, but it’s harder to mend a broken friendship.

“It has never gotten to the argument stage where we are yelling and fighting,” Bookbinder said. “We understand each other and know how to handle problems according to the person.”

Being friends and roommates can have its benefits and appears to work for this set of girls. They work with each other and respect each other’s space and belongings.

“It’s about approaching the problem with a solution,” Nicewander said. “That way everyone knows what to expect.”

Whether a roommate becomes a lifelong friend or just someone to help make rent, communication is the key to healthy relationships and problem resolution.