Problem-Solution: Living with a Roommate - Essay Example

Problem-Solution: Living with a Roommate My college roommate, Martin, was a lifelong friend. We grew up in the same neighborhood, went to the same grade and high schools. Martin often beat me in class, as he was a classic good student. Martin frequently scored A’s in both grade and high school while I was slightly behind him with A minuses and B pluses. On top of above average educational performance, Martin had an impeccable record in extracurricular activities, particularly basketball. Martin was a proficient basketball player, an advantage he enjoyed because of his height. At the same time, we came from Christian backdrops, making it relatively easier to resist peer pressure. In college, we would have made the perfect roommates, or so I thought. I had no idea of the radically perverse changes Martin would undergo while in college and the impact it would have on his education, let alone our friendship. Martin attended several fraternity parties during the first month of college where he indulged in minor alcohol consumption and mild debauchery. In an intoxicated stupor, Martin even took puffs of marijuana and kissed a girl. At this point, there was nothing alarming about his behavior at these parties. The critical point slowly arrived when Martin attended more parties arranged by seniors and involved serious drug abuse and mindless sex. Martin slowly came back to the dorm drunk to the extent of vomiting and urinating on himself. I thought the problem was not beyond control or curbing as I attempted to discuss with him his change in behavior. However, Martin dismissed my concerns and referred to them as “jealousy” and “hatred.” I should have escalated this problem to the counselor or his parents. Instead, I hoped he would realize the consequences of his depraved behavior and change for his own good. Instead, Martin’s misconduct continued and began reflecting on his academic performance and socialization skills. Martin continued his alcohol consumption tendencies outside fraternity parties. Martin could drink during movie nights, outside the classroom, in the dormitory, and even before exams. The behavior reached a critical point when he began smoking marijuana at our room while watching movies or simply relaxing on the bed. During this point, Martin was part of a gang of three other boys, two of which were seniors, and a girl who had repeated her sophomore year twice because of a pregnancy, which she later terminated. These students introduced Martin to world of squandering savings on alcohol, parties, clothes, drugs, and too many road trips. By the mid-sophomore year, Martin had bragged to me about sleeping with at least twenty-one different girls, half of which were not even students from this college or students at all. Clearly, Martin was hanging out with the wrong crowd. In class, Martin’s grade reflected his deteriorating interest in education. Martin performed averagely during the first semester, which coincided with his introduction to alcohol and decrease class attendance. I remember the teacher simply telling martin to check his B’s in Languages and Mathematics as he believed they may degrade into C’s or D’s if he does not take any measures. By the third semester of the Freshman year, Martin’s performance was below average. At this point, the professor was either criticizing Martin for his D’s in CATs and even plagiarized research papers or asking the class where he was. The professor had to sit Martin down and talk to him about the reason he was blacklisted from a number of science and research clubs. Martin attending these clubs’ meetings while intoxicated. Martin’s parents were notified of his deteriorating marks and intolerable behavior outside the classroom. I decided it was time for Martin to his problem and ways to check them because I no longer wanted to be roommates with such a person. Martin’s problem was not simply a personal, social, or institutional one, but mine as well. I did not agree to live and study with a wild young adult who is irresponsible and unsupportive. Martin’s problem also worsened because of his abandonment of the church. Martin refrained from the Christian club and college church. Martin’s values were corrupted by vices learned and adopted from bad company. Attending church could have checked this lack of control in Martin and saved his academic future and social relationships. Instead, Martin took refuge in the fact that cases such as his were common all through campus. A significant number of students who performed excellently in high school were recording poor performance and increased misconduct shortly after entering college. Such students sought comfort amongst each other clinging on to the idea that there is strength in such numbers when they are in fact ruining their futures. It was time for me to come up with another individual solution for Martin’s problem other than the church, his parents, or company. The solution for Martin’s problem has to be preventive. I have to be martin’s better judgment when he is unable to make a decent or rational judgment call. The frequency of incidents when Martin is evidently incapable of making a rational judgment call has been high lately. From attending fraternity parties every weekend to going on road trips without school or parental permission, Martin has been making poor judgments for himself too frequently. I once learned that I am my brother’s keeper. This means I have to be Martin’s parent while at school. I have to be the one to tell Martin when he is simply enjoying himself and when he has crossed the line. Martin’s problem also forced me to follow his routines outside the classroom, learn more about his friends, and tell him when he is giving in to peer pressure. I also tell Martin to consider contacting me in the event of a problem like transport for returning to the college when outside the campus for socialization reasons. If Martin calls his partying friends for help, their solution will most likely indulging in other activities that simply aggravate his initial problem. I have to be the one who picks Martin up when he makes mistakes, force him to learn from them, and resist from repeating them, whether he likes it or not. Read More