Last year I lived in a dorm with my four best friends, one of whom was my roommate at the time.

This year I live in a single, with one of those best friends also in the same dorm. Luckily, she lives right down the hall.

The automatic comfort and support you feel when one of your friends lives nearby is almost indescribable. I definitely would not have been able to get through this semester without my friend living down the hall. Our rooms are always open to each other -- I use her fridge and she uses my microwave. It’s easy and relaxing. I know that at any time, I can walk down the hall into her room, with no already-made plans, and we can just sit around and gossip, watch TV, or eat.

This is one of the best things about college: being surrounded by people your own age 24 hours a day. Sometimes those people can become lifelong friends in the process.