UF Students and RA Share Advice

By Ella Resor

resore@findlay.edu

Living with a roommate is a canon event of the college experience, but whether that experience is positive or negative can be largely dependent on you. At the University of Findlay, students and resident assistants say that communication, compromise, and mutual respect are the foundations of a successful shared living space.

Resident assistant Baylee King, who has worked with dozens of students in UF residence halls, said the first step is to establish expectations before problems arise.

“A quick text before move-in of ‘Hey, I’m your roommate this year. Can we talk about X, Y, and Z?’ can be really helpful,” King said. “It’s good when students sit down at the beginning of the semester to talk about things like sharing, guests, and living habits.”

King said many conflicts between roommates happen when expectations are assumed rather than explained. She encourages students to create a shared agreement early on, so that everyone has input.

Callie Neuenschwander, a UF student who has lived with several roommates, said she believes communication is the most important part of the relationship.

“Small problems, like leaving dishes out, can grow into big issues if people don’t talk about them,” she said. “Respecting each other’s space and schedules helps avoid conflict.”

Neuenschwander said students often underestimate how much daily routines, such as class schedules or study habits, can affect living together. She recommends roommates check in with each other regularly instead of waiting until tensions boil over.

Brianna Beckley, another UF student, said compromise plays a big role in keeping peace.

“Not everything will go your way, and learning to adjust makes the living situation better for everyone,” Beckley said.

She added that honesty and kindness make disagreements easier to manage. Beckley said even when roommates disagree, treating one another with respect helps prevent long-term issues.

King agreed, saying her experience as an RA has shown her that most roommate disputes start small but grow larger when people avoid addressing them. “Small issues build up and it can get to the point where both roommates are frustrated and don’t even remember what started the problem,” King said.

UF provides support for roommates struggling to live together. King said resident assistants are trained to mediate conflicts and help students reach compromises. In rare cases where conflicts cannot be resolved, even with a roommate contract, housing offices may arrange room changes. However, King said those situations are generally the exception.

Most of the time, she said, students are able to find common ground. “College is often the first time people live with someone outside their family,” King said. “It takes adjustment, but it can also be a great experience if you’re patient.”

Students echoed that idea, saying living with a roommate is a learning experience that extends beyond the classroom. Neuenschwander said that while there can be challenges, sharing a space teaches important life skills.

“You learn how to communicate, how to respect boundaries and how to work through differences,” she said. “Those are things you’ll need long after college.”

For Beckley, the value lies in building connections. “Even if you’re not best friends, having someone to share the college experience with can make it a lot more meaningful,” she said.

Whether through open conversations, compromises, or simple acts of kindness, students and resident assistants at UF agree that the key to being a good roommate is approaching the relationship with respect and understanding.