Roommates. As a college student, the word creates a plethora of images in my mind. There’s the time when I got locked out on accident by my roommate while showering. Then there’s the time my roommate did a midnight cheer for me when I was stressing out over finals. There’s also the time when we both kept placing a strange looking scarf on each other’s desk until a few months later, when we found out it wasn’t either one of ours.

Roommates make college a better experience. They can be finicky, difficult or moody at times, but in the end, a good roommate is one you can cry with, talk to, and trust. Living with a roommate at first can be frustrating if you’re an only child or used to having your own way, but once you get used to it, having a roommate is like having someone that’s always got your back.

I remember the day I woke up ten minutes before I was supposed to be at work. It was my first week on the job and my boss had overly emphasized how important it was to be on time. To make matters worse, I didn’t have a car and was planning on walking, even though it was pouring outside. After asking my half lucid roommate if she could take me, we were zipping away in her SUV. Miraculously, I barely made it in time for work.

As you live with roommates, they start to become like family. You learn their habits, and find out about their odd quirks. You know their routine, their sleeping schedule and favorite junk food. Just like family, roommates become a sort of base; you know they’ll be there for you no matter what.

For me, college life is made easier by having that kind of a solid base. A loyal roommate is a good base, but a home that I can always turn back to is better. Knowing my family is always there for me helps. Even my family’s house can serve as a base. Having the same house for years, still on the same corner waiting for me, is comforting. In order to have that kind of a home base though, families have to be willing to work to keep it safe. They have to let their college students know they are still there for them and they have to keep their home safe. One good way to protect the house is through a home security system.

To get more information on security promotions contact Smith Security Monitoring, or visit www.smithmonitoring.com to get connected with an “A rated” Austin Alarm Company available.