Roommates. You can’t live with them and you can’t live without them. But whether you like your roommate or not, we’ve all had those times when it’s just nice to have another person around—even if he still hasn’t returned that umbrella you lent to him. In this spirit, I’d like to give a shout-out to my own amazing roommate.

Like everyone who shares a living space, we have had our little arguments over the years. But without our quirks and interactions, life just wouldn’t be the same. In fact, my roommate’s personality has made Northwestern bearable for me—be it through his humor, spontaneity, determination, or, of course, his oddly comforting night-screaming.

Northwestern’s hard and we’ve all had times when it feels like it’s becoming too much. You know the scene: it’s 3 a.m., I’m staring at a half-finished essay that’s due tomorrow, and I just want to call it quits and give in to that universal feeling of crushing deep-night isolation. Fortunately, I am not alone.

Just as I fall into the deepest depths of my despair, I glance over at my sleeping roommate contorting in his bed and remember that, even at 3 a.m., we’re all in this together. As I listen to his primal shrieks echo into the black moonless sky, I can’t help but be reminded of all the fond memories we’ve had together—the stuff that really makes life worth living.

Whatever quirks your roommate has, be it dancing, nail-biting, odd musical tastes, or unconsciously chanting the psalms of a forgotten god into the icy night air with a booming inhuman voice, it is undeniable that our roommates make the Northwestern experience what it is, even if there are a few hiccups along the way! So, remember even in the worst of times to always be grateful for your roommate. Let them know how much they mean to you—I know I will. When my roommate wakes up tomorrow with glazed eyes and an expression screaming for death, I’ll smile, thank him for being my roommate, and let him know that I hope he had a good rest.