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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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage