CHEESY ESSAYS

Different Worlds

My college roomate and me

When asking the puzzling question, can two mismatched personalities get along? the resulting outcome can be far from what is expected. I discovered this in my first year of college when pondering the many differences between my insufferable roommate and me.

If I were ever asked to predict my life, I never would have guessed I’d be rooming in a college dormitory with a kid they called Cha-Chi.

Anticipating college life can be pretty stressful. One of the most important moments for a freshman’s new arrival is meeting their new roommate.

I was saved from this troublesome task, however, and, like some, I was coerced into living with an acquaintance from high school. After much of his begging and ass-kissing, I agreed to room with him.

As you might venture — since I told you already — my roommate and I were quite different from each other. We were two opposite personalities clustered into a small Z-shaped room.

Aside from having very differing physical characteristics, we both stood opposite on many issues. I considered him to be liberal in the sense that he constantly wanted change. “How about the couch over here? Let’s move the fridge over there,” he’d say with respect to rearranging our room.

I liked sports; Cha-Chi liked cars. He was often laid back and, well, somewhat boring. For him, an exciting day was watching a heated argument on The Ricki Lake Show.

Referring to Cha-Chi as a party animal would have been a little off-track, as well: he was mostly quiet and reserved. I, on the other hand, was a bit rambunctious, always up for a good party, a rather loyal characteristic considering we were, after all, attending a known party school.

The reactions from my friends to this rooming situation were not complimentary. Many said our personalities would clash, some even referring to him as an annoyance, always in the way.

One friend remarked, “You’ll probably end up throwing him out the window. And if not, then you’ll jump out yourself.”

Despite the differences, however, my roommate and I were able to get along. It’s true, I got Cha-Chi to change for the better and he did the same for me.

Sometimes, I’d encourage him to do his homework and to avoid getting so easily discouraged. I even taught him how to loosen up at parties. And he taught me how to watch TV for hours on end.

Cha-Chi and I were able to talk and share our differences with one another. One night, he agreed to drink beers and party all night. Granted, he did not do that, but that’s not what counts. He had entertained the idea, at least.

I’m not really sure how we became friends. If I’m honest about it, it happened more gradually, perhaps through the force of living together. I think we both decided it would be easier to cooperate with each other and make concessions rather than fight to the death on a daily basis. Despite some occasional disagreements, Cha-Chi and I became closer.

I showed my friends.

As the days went on, my attitude toward Cha-Chi changed for the better. I found it easier to get along with him. In fact, we were both doing things we found enjoyable.

One time, I went to the dining hall early with him to eat dinner, and he even mentioned wanting to go to the gym with me. Granted, he did not go to the gym with me, but at least he considered it. We had reached a compromise of living style.

From the experience, I realized that it is not impossible for two very different people to get along. Cha-Chi helped me cope with the differences in our society, and then, as I came across people who were different from me, I was able to gain a better understanding of them.

The outcome of this arrangement was far from what I expected. I gained a new respect for unique and different people, thanks to my roommate, Cha-Chi. And hopefully, Cha-Chi learned to deal with the wild side of life, thanks to me.