Tufts Blogs

It was a hot August day, and I was beyond nervous. I couldn’t tell if I sweating because of the nearly 100-degree weather because of my nerves. It was move-in day: the day every college freshman looks forward to—but also slightly dreads. I made it to my dorm and knocked on my soon-to-be room for the year. All I knew about my roommate, Maria, was that she was a combined degree student from Tuscon, Arizona. I knocked on my door and…nothing. Two knocks…nothing. Finally, after three knocks, the door opened and I was greeted by my very sleepy roommate Maria. “Great,” I thought. “My first time meeting my roommate and I woke her up.” After exchanging a few “hi’s,” and “nice to meet you’s,” I began to move into my new dorm room. Our first interaction was not how I imagined meeting Maria, and I was worried I had started us off on the wrong foot. 

That evening, Maria invited me and another girl named Lillian to get dinner before the Illumination Ceremony. Despite our first awkward interaction, the dinner went amazingly, and Maria, Lillian, and I decided to go to the Illumination Ceremony together. From that day on, Maria and I became the best of friends. 

Over the next few months, Maria and I got to know each other better and better each day. She loves Twilight, Phoebe Bridgers, and diet coke. She is also an extremely talented artist. Maria is kind, genuine, and hilarious. She never fails to listen to my daily recaps or talk me through something I am going through.

Cut to April 2023: Maria and I are still best friends, and are planning to live together again next year—with a few other friends as well! I cannot believe that a randomized roommate survey brought me one of my best friends. All that to say, having a survey choose your roommate can be daunting, but it can also lead you to meet an amazing friend who you may have never crossed paths with otherwise.