Dear Jacquelyn,

I will be a freshman in college and this will be the first time I’ve had a roommate. I’m worried about how I will adjust. What can I do to adjust to this new living situation?

Dear Reader,

First-year students like you have a lot on their minds: making new friends, navigating the campus and choosing a major.

There’s so much more to this monumental change than the hours spent in the classroom. An essential part of the college experience is learning to live away from home for the first time.

Not everyone’s study habits are the same. When you meet your new roommate have a conversation about studying preferences.

Whether you prefer the quiet retreat of a dorm room or collaborating in a study group, you’ll need to find a place to concentrate and focus.

It’s smart and a good idea to have a variety of places to work outside of your dorm room. This will take some pressure off.

If you aren’t able to find peace and quiet in your dorm room, perhaps you can compromise and study in the library or student union center.

As you adjust and learn about each other’s schedules and habits, you’ll find the right combination.

Use this as an opportunity to learn responsibility, compromise and effective communication.

Respectfully Yours,

Jacquelyn

Have a question? Email: jacquelyn@ptd.net. Jacquelyn Youst is owner of the Pennsylvania Academy of Protocol, specializing in etiquette training.

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