For most high school seniors the stresses of finding the right college, major, classes, fraternity or sorority and dining options are accompanied by finding the right roommate. Some have the looming question of if they will get along with their new living buddy. Some have no fear about this new experience. Seniors Owen Unrein and Cy Conaway are the second option.
“He’s one of my closest friends,” Conaway said. “I trust him a lot. There’s no stress of having to meet someone or make a first impression again.”
“Me and Cy are both going [in]to the same major. [Rooming with him] just felt right,” Unrein added.
The rooming process is unlike many others.
“Something I’m worried about would be boundaries. There’s a big difference in being close friends with someone and living with them,” Conaway said. “That level of honesty [with a roommate] is so strong because you want to make sure you’re both happy living together and that one person’s not miserable.”
Something Unrein said could be an issue is that they will be in the major together.
“Since our major is the same, we’re going to have a ton of the same classes and activities together,” Unrein said. “We [will] have to go back to our dorm [after] and spend [more] time together. We could just get irritable with each other and maybe a bit snappy.”
However, Unrein feels it shouldn’t be too big of an issue.
“Cy and I have that type of friendship where you can be around each other for a long period of time and it’ll be fine,” Unrein said. “We’ve never gotten irritated with each other in the past, and that will translate to college well.”
While figuring out the new dynamics of having a roommate, the aspect of peace and quiet comes to mind for Conaway.
“Silence is sometimes a really great thing to have,” Conaway said. “I know [for] a lot of people when they’re together [in silence] it gets really awkward, but I find this [to be] a strength.”
The two friends have known each other since sophomore year and have gotten closer since. This was helpful in the college planning process and will make freshman year even more exciting for Conaway and Unrein.
“Having a plan early for who you’re going to room with is super helpful,” Unrein said. “It [is] just one element of stress that gets eliminated.”
