IzzyCampie

As high school seniors get ready for their next chapter, one of the most important decisions they’ll face is choosing who they’ll live with.

Seniors Reese Welsh and Fiona Render are both headed to Creighton University in the fall, but when it comes to choosing a roommate, their paths couldn’t be more different.

Welsh will be walking into her freshman year already knowing her roommate well. She is rooming with her friend and current classmate, senior Ava Hayes. While some might fear that rooming with a close friend could strain the relationship, Welsh sees it as a source of strength and stability.

“Being with someone I know helps me to come out of my shell faster and show my true self when I meet new people,” Welsh said.

Though she briefly weighed the option of being paired with someone at random, the idea of starting college with a built-in support system ultimately won her over.

“I considered a random assignment, but I thought rooming with someone I knew would help me hit the ground running when meeting new people,” Welsh said.

For Reese, college is already a big leap: new school, new classes, new pace. So, why not make one piece of the puzzle more familiar?

She also sees practical advantages in rooming with a friend. “We know each other’s preferences, tendencies, likes and dislikes, so I think we’ll be able to get situated in our room faster,” she said. “We’ve even talked about how we’ll handle things like cleaning and sleep schedules. We both prefer a clean room, and while our sleep schedules are a little different, we’re aware of that and already know how to respect each other’s space.”

“I think having a built-in friend from the start will help ease the transition,” she said. “Ava is a source of comfort for me.”

Together, the two have been planning every little detail, down to a shared Pinterest board for dorm decor. “We’re both very excited to experience all our college firsts together and watch each other grow. She’s in the college of business, and I’m in the college of arts and sciences, so I’m excited to support her while also discovering my own path.”

Render, on the other hand, is stepping into a very different kind of experience. She’s opted to room with a stranger.

“I decided to room with someone I didn’t know because I want to step out of my comfort zone in college and build new friendships,” Render said.

Render knew from early on that she wanted a fresh start, one that involved new connections and growth. “I considered rooming with a friend, but ultimately I wanted to have new friends while still having familiar faces around campus.”

The choice wasn’t one she wrestled with. “Going random was an easy decision for me,” she said. And so far, it’s paying off. “My roommate and I are super similar, and we even know some of the same people, which helps ease the nerves.” 

For Render, the decision is less about comfort and more about challenge.

“I’m hoping to gain many new friendships and learn a new perspective on life,” she said. “Rooming with someone new will teach me how to compromise and change myself for the better.”

Of course, some nerves come with such a decision. Render admits she’s anxious about spending so much time with someone she’s only met a couple of times. But even that fear is something she’s choosing to lean into.

“I think living with someone random will push me out of my comfort zone in a good way,” she said. “It’ll help me go out and meet new people and have new experiences and connections.”

Render is hopeful that her future roommate will share some of her values, particularly cleanliness, a balance of social energy and an openness to new experiences.

But more than anything, she’s excited. “I can’t wait to have new experiences and build a relationship with someone who starts out as a stranger but becomes someone to navigate college with.”

As these two seniors look toward move-in day, their stories are a reminder that there’s no one “right” way to begin college. After all, college isn’t just about where you go. It’s also about who you are there with, whether you’ve known them forever or met them for the first time in a 12-by-12 dorm room.

Reesh Welsh ’25 stands with Ava Hayes ’25 at Declaration Day on May 1. The two friends decided to room together at Creighton University in the fall. Photo by Izzy Campie.