EDUCATION

Is it Good to Have a Roommate? The Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a Roommate on Campus

Many Nigerian students share a room with their friends on campus, while others squat for a particular period of time pending when they will be able to get theirs. The major reason why students opt in for roommates is because of financial issues, apart from other challenges. There are advantages to having roommates, but the disadvantages are greater than the benefits.

As a new student who just got admission to a university, polytechnic, or college of education, what comes to your mind next is accommodation, and when choosing accommodation, you may have to consider whether or not to live with a roommate. Well, in this article, we will briefly discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living with roommates.

While some students insist having a roommate is good, some argue otherwise, saying the cons are greater than the pros.

The advantages of roommates:

1. YOU DON’T BECOME LONELY.

When you have a roommate, you always have someone to talk to and hang around with. You rarely get that funny feeling that makes it seem like you’ve been placed under some sort of house arrest or holed up in a fortress. I remember when I had a roommate, we used to talk and gist, and this alone doesn’t make me feel lonely and bored. If you are the type of person that can’t live alone, then you can opt-in for a roommate.

2. YOU SPLIT THE BILLS.

Rather than living alone in an uncomfortable abode because you can’t afford to pay for something better, with a roommate, you get to live in a better environment and simply split the rent. You also get someone to share the house chores and tasks with. Instead of living in a “face me, I slap you” apartment, you could get a self-contained room and split the bills. You won’t have to worry about the bills because it is 50/50, that is, you share the Nepa bills, house rent, food stuff, drinks, etc. Having a roommate will reduce your financial burden in school.

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3. YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO CALL FOR HELP AND SUPPORT.

You’re going to an early morning lecture and have no transport fare; you need to purchase some important items and you’ve got no money; you’re coming home late and need a hot meal on your table as soon as you get home; and what else? A roommate’s the best bet. Having a roommate in school can be of help and support to you, especially when you are tired. Your roommate can help you out, and vice versa.

(4). LIFETIME FRIENDSHIP.

You may end up being everlasting friends and be able to help each other in the future. Because nobody knows tomorrow, just try to be a good roommate. The fact that someone is squatting on you today doesn’t mean they can’t help you tomorrow. I’ve seen students who were roommates during their undergraduate days in school and later helped each other after graduation. So, I think having a roommate can help you build a lifetime friendship and relationship.

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(5). THERE’S SOMEONE AROUND IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES.

Imagine you slipped in the bathroom and fell into a coma, or you got knocked down by a heavy bout of malaria, or fainted after falling dizzy; the fact is, there’s a higher possibility of you getting help when you have a roommate as compared to when you don’t. I learnt that a polytechnic student died a few years back after battling malaria in her hostel. This is what happens when you don’t have a roommate. Having a roommate helps you in terms of emergencies. Your phone is not as fast as having someone beside you to help on time.

The Disadvantages of Having a Roommate.

For all the advantages of having a roommate, the disadvantages are many, and if care is not taken, you might lose focus and get distracted by your roommate’s palaver. Even though roommates work for some people, the percentage is not usually positive. Here are some reasons why you should not have a roommate.

1. YOU LOSE YOUR PRIVACY.

You can’t sleep naked, you can’t spend a full hour in the bathroom, you can’t sing with your voice in the bedroom, you can’t watch indecency, masturbate, and freely do all the other weird stuff you love doing. The fact is, your privacy becomes lost the moment you begin to cohabit with someone else. The last time I had a roommate, having a girlfriend became difficult for me because of privacy. The funniest part is that anytime my girlfriend visits, my roommate will never excuse us. He will be listening to all our conversations. This is vexing, especially if you’re in a long-distance relationship.

Will you tell your roommate to go lodge elsewhere because your boyfriend wants to visit? In fact, you won’t be able to sleep naked at night at your convenience, and also praying may become difficult because you won’t want your roommate to know how far you’ve come in your relationship with God.

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2. YOUR ROOMMATE COULD BE PRETTY ANNOYING.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation whereby you get to leave your bottle of perfume in a certain position whenever you’re leaving the house? Or do you have to hide your wallet in totally absurd places? Or put a very small piece of paper in your milk tin lid? Or have to hide your towel in your luggage all because some self-acclaimed roommate doesn’t know that some things are not meant to be shared? Or have you ever lived with someone who spits on the bedroom floor, urinates in the kitchen sink, and uses the toilet without flushing? Well, if you haven’t, it’s only a matter of time-except you live alone. Roommates are scams. Never accept them. Don’t ever give them a chance if you don’t know their roots.

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3. YOUR ROOMMATE MIGHT BACKBITE YOU.

Your roommate might backbite and tell people private things about you. Do you bedwet, wear underwear for a month, bathe once a week, and brush your teeth only on Tuesday mornings? You really ought to be careful if you already have a roommate. Your roommate could tell people all these things and even feign lies, all in a bid to keep a conversation with a third party going or simply because he/she’s damned irritated.

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(4). YOU COULD BE MADE TO PAY FOR YOUR ROOMMATE’S CRIMES.

I once lived with a guy who stole a mobile phone from a fellow housemate only to abscond when things went awry. At the end of the day, I almost got arrested if not for the simple fact that I stood my ground. Others, however, have faced police detention, jail time, or even death for crimes committed by their roommates. Imagine if your roommate was a cultist and got arrested or killed. You may get into trouble.

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5. LIVING ALONE MAKES YOU INDEPENDENT.

Living alone gives you an independent life; you pay your own bills, pay your dues, and feed yourself. Living alone doesn’t mean you will be lonely. You can have friends who visit and even spend some time with you, whereas having a roommate can be a burden to you. As a man, living alone helps to build your level of maturity and it speaks a lot about your responsibility.

Living alone makes you serious, and you will be able to think straight about your life without the distraction of competing with your roommate. In fact, as a student, you can easily restock your home at any time without any concern that your roommate might feed on them. You can buy new things for your room, such as TV sets, beds, and chairs, and they will all be yours. However, unlike when you have a roommate, the urgency to get things done in your room will be low.

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6. YOUR ROOMMATE MIGHT BECOME DEPENDENT ON YOU.

When you live with some people, you might suddenly find yourself footing all the bills, funding all meals, purchasing all items, and carrying out all the basic house chores that you begin to wonder why you aren’t even living alone in the first place. It’s either your roommate lives either on you or with You If he/she lives with you, that’s fine; but if he/she lives with you, run.

7. INFLUENCE.

Your Roommate can be of either good or bad influence to you. There are some students who were well mannered but became corrupt suddenly due to the influence from their roommates. For instance, if your roommate is found in the habit of doing hookup, you might be tempted to do the same or if he is into fraud, you might be tempted to join the fraud team too which in turn affects your academic journey on campus.

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