4 Things To Consider Before Choosing A Roommate
If you ask me, everything was simpler in college. You had a set schedule, nobody judged you for being broke, and some of the most difficult life decisions were made for you. Particularly, choosing a roommate. In most cases, you were either assigned one through some randomized lottery or you and a friend grew close enough over the semester and telepathically agreed to cohabitate.
The ease of my college roommate selection leaned more towards the latter and appeared to be a luxury at the time, but in retrospect, it served to be a bit of an enabler in my overall development as a budding adult. You see, when I moved into my first apartment in Brooklyn, I was so eager to be out on my own and away from my small town that I didn't think twice about who I would be living with. In fact, the whole process happened so miraculously that I didn't bat an eye when my blogger-friend turned roommate reached out to me about a sudden opening in their place. I thought, "This has to be God!" But nicely put, I was in for quite an interesting experience.
No one's really to blame for my lack of preparation of what to look for and look out for in a potential roommate arrangement, as much of life's lessons come through trial, error, and Sunday afternoon discussions on who left the hair in the bathtub – ahh, the memories.
If only there was some kind of online course or app to assist in this painful process, but for now, you have me! Knowing how compatible you are with your potential roommate(s) is one of the biggest ways to avoid conflict and high stress levels in the place you all call home. Before you sign on a dotted line or wire a deposit, here are a few things to consider:
1.Test the Waters.
Getty Images
Much like dating, you want to make sure that you and your roomie(s) are as compatible as possible. Now, although you can't go on a series of dates with one another – because that's expensive, you can opt for a chemistry test. Compile a list of questions that surround each other's lifestyles.
Are they a loner or social butterfly? 420 friendly? Are you dealing with a night owl or early bird? And most importantly, what are their cleaning habits? Having an open and honest foundation provides you with the freedom to decide if this is something you want to get into or if this is your chance to hit to road.
Featured image by Getty Images.
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Aley Arion is a writer and digital storyteller from the South, currently living in sunny Los Angeles. Her site, yagirlaley.com, serves as a digital diary to document personal essays, cultural commentary, and her insights into the Black Millennial experience. Follow her at @yagirlaley on all platforms!
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Crystal Renay Is Prioritizing Healing, Her Kids, And Her Coins Amid Divorce
Crystal Renay is reclaiming her time and her identity after dealing with heartbreak. The model was married to Ne-Yo for seven years and they share three young children together. However, after a cheating scandal that resulted in a baby outside of their relationship, Crystal decided to end her marriage to the “So Sick” singer. Now, she is focusing on her bag and her kids. She is co-owner of Johnny’s Chicken and Waffles, launching a lip kit line, and is back on TV starring in the new WE TV reality series Bold & Bougie.
But it wasn’t an easy road, especially with reality TV. From the beginning, Crystal and her castmates bumped heads due to misconceptions and alliances with her ex-husband’s former partner, Monyetta Shaw. However, the mother of three exclusively tells xoNecole that she doesn’t regret her decision to join the show.
Crystal Renay
Photo courtesy
“Honestly, being in that space, we had a– you know, when you're first getting to know people, sometimes it can be smooth, and sometimes it can be rocky,” she says. “In our case, it was a little bit rocky and just getting to know each other, and I like to call it growing pains. And I felt like we had a couple of moments, but all in all, like the experience was really good for me, and I would do it over again.”
Crystal describes herself as “career-oriented” and says she is in her selfish season because she is now prioritizing herself first. But she admits that she is still healing from her divorce. The reality TV star shares some tips for others who may be going through the same thing.
“I would definitely say pray, pray as much as you can. Try to take your emotions out of your reactions to things because it’s always going to be something that you don't like in the situation,” she says. “But we can't move off of emotion because 10 times out of 10, a few months later, you're not going to feel like that. So, I'm a firm believer in not doing things that I will regret later. So I would just say be patient with yourself and stay positive.”
While there may be an opportunity to find love again, that’s not Crystal’s focus at the moment. She is in the rebuilding phase of her life, emphasizing the importance of self-care, personal growth, and finding her own happiness. She has had her share of challenges, including dealing with negative emotions and the public's perception of her, but her priorities involve spending quality time with her children and running lucrative businesses.
“I would definitely say pray, pray as much as you can. Try to take your emotions out of your reactions to things because it’s always going to be something that you don't like in the situation.”
“With my kids, I'm very hands-on. I’m team mother with soccer kids, and they don't really make no goals because they like five years old, but I'm there cheering them on every week,” she jokes. “I want to travel, especially this summer, with my kids and take them somewhere internationally because they're at the age where they can handle a long flight. So, me just spending more time and more new experiences with my kids is my main focus with them and showing them all the love that I could possibly give them.”
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Photo courtesy of Crystal Renay