How do we form connections? Typically we prefer to develop relationships on our own terms. So what happens to the thousands of young adults all over the country who are about to start cohabitating with in many cases a total stranger? The "college roommate experience". Many of us remember it. For our teens starting a new chapter, it can be one of the greatest tests in social skills, vulnerability, and tolerance for conflict. For all of us, the challenges of connecting with new people, in new settings, in situations we may not fully control is an opportunity to harness our interpersonal skills. As I send my oldest off for his college experience" I am grateful to have been given this opportunity to collaborate. This piece is mostly for parents and students- but there are some strategies that go beyond the college dorm room.
