“Not happening.” That was the first thing I said when I found out that I would be living in a giant room with eight girls I had never met.  Welcome to supplemental housing, what I thought would be my worst nightmare as a freshman in college.  How can eight girls live peacefully together? In my mind, there was no way.  You see, even if all of the girls aren’t catty or superficial, I was sure there would be at least one.  One who I would just not like.  One who would make me want to move out even faster than I already did.  One who would be “that girl.”

I was set on moving out.  I actually didn’t even unpack everything when I moved in because I didn’t anticipate staying for long.  There was no way I would sleep or have fun trying to deal with eight strangers and their very different personalities.  I considered myself way to shy, private, and self-conscious to live with that many other people, and figured that everyone else would want to party while I don’t even drink.  However, what I should have considered myself was judgmental.    

Thank goodness I was wrong.  I have made lifelong friends who I feel know me better than some people who have known me my whole life.  I have grown up a lot, learned to take things one at a time, and more than that, I have learned how to live with other people. 

The biggest change I have made is on my perspective of others.  While it is very easy to assume things about other people based on first impressions, looks, gossip, etc., there is no value in it.  I have learned that a lot of assumptions are a waste of time that bring extra worries and create stress.  How much can you really know from someone’s Facebook profile?  How much can you really know about someone based on where he/she comes from?  How much can you really know about someone before you get to know him/her?  Not too much, honestly.  I know that seems pretty obvious, but then why is making judgments such a habit?  Why is it a habit when we know they probably don’t mean too much, and usually don’t mean anything by them?  The little value they hold can get in the way of making a valuable friend.  Luckily for me that didn’t happen, and no matter what freshman year may hold--awkwardness, sadness, excitement, thoughtfulness, intellect, etc.--I am grateful to have friends to experience it with me.