Who should I room with?

Faline2
Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:18:36 +0000

my WASP son is a Chancellor’s scholar and he spent spring break in NYC region visiting a guy who is Jewish, a girl who is Polish American and fluent in three languages, a guy who is Chinese American and bilingual, a guy who is Filipino and bilingual --all members of his class at Vandy. His housemates in the Mayfield Lodge from his sophomore year included two girls who are Polish speakers, a guy who is Pakistani American and a girl from Shanghai and girls from Florida, a guy from Ohio, an African American girl from the DC region. It is all about just making the effort. I am sure you will do just fine and you will not be isolated or left out. Being a freshman always has certain aspects of being alone and relying on your own somewhat while time passes enough to sort out friendships. Coming from Bangladesh already indicates you are a very able person! You will be fine rooming with your friend or not.
My message for my sons was to understand that adulthood does have aspects of loneliness but that this is necessary as you go through the processes that help you find your friendships that will sustain you in life beyond the sustenance of your family and origins. “have a high opinion of yourself and an equally good opinion of those you meet,” cut everyone a break as freshmen…plus it is normal to make errors of judgment at times, “freshman follies” happen, but all Vanderbilt students are gifted and highly motivated and the freshman that seems annoying and misguided at age 18 may be a fine person as a junior" that is my parental advice to share and the way in my view to also cope with going Greek or staying independent on campus. Stay open hearted and all will be well.