From Roommates to Lifelong Friends

When United College graduates Tara Ryan and Samantha Terry first arrived at the University of Waterloo, they were both searching for many of the same things: community, connection, and a place that would feel like home.

What neither expected was that a roommate match at United College would turn into one of the most meaningful friendships of their university experience.

The two former students, who both graduated from the Faculty of Environment’s Environment, Resources and Sustainability program last June, first crossed paths during online classes in 2020. Like many students beginning university during the pandemic, their early interactions were limited to virtual group work and video calls.

“We had a couple of online classes together. Tara noticed a tapestry on my wall during one of our Teams calls, and that’s how we realized we kind of knew each other already,” Sam recalled.

Soon after, Residence Life Coordinator Brianna Johnston paired them as roommates when they started in person at United College.

For Sam, who came to Waterloo from Milton, residence life was one of the biggest reasons she chose United College in the first place.

“The living-learning community really stood out to me,” Sam said. “I wanted to meet people within my faculty and have that close-knit environment right away. Being so close to the Environment buildings was also a huge plus for me.”

Tara, who came from out of province, said moving away from home initially felt overwhelming, but having a roommate like Sam made the transition easier.

“The first thing we did together was go to Walmart,” Tara laughed. “We just kind of goofed around, and it made everything feel less intimidating.”

That first shopping trip quickly turned into years of shared memories.

From studying together at cafés around campus to reading outside on the United College Green, the pair became nearly inseparable. Friends and classmates often joked that wherever one of them was, the other was probably nearby too.

“A lot of people mix up our names,” Tara said. “If one of us is there, usually the other is too.”

Over time, their friendship extended far beyond residence life. The two travelled to South Africa together on a Faculty of Environment field course, shared meals with friends in their apartment, played video games together after long days of classes, and built routines that made university life feel more grounded and supportive.

“It was nice always having someone with you. When we planned our days we were usually planning them together,” Sam said.

Both students describe themselves as shy at first, which is why they encourage incoming students to embrace the roommate experience, even if it feels unfamiliar at the beginning.

“It can feel scary living with someone who’s basically a stranger,” Tara said. “But sometimes taking that leap of faith really pays off.”

Sam agreed, adding that having a roommate was like have a built-in best friend.

“When you have a roommate, it feels like you already have a buddy. You can start doing things together, meeting people together, and getting comfortable on campus together. It’s nice to begin the journey with someone.”

They have both now moved on to different chapters in their lives, with Tara remaining at the university to do her master’s degree, while Sam moved to England to pursue a Master of Environment and Social Justice at York St John University.

And while they will no longer be living together and living in different countries, neither of them see if as the end of their friendship.

“Tara has to come visit me. “I’ll be offended if she doesn’t,” Sam joked.

Their story is a reminder that residence at United College can become much more than just a place to stay during university. For many students, it becomes the place where lifelong friendships begin.

Interested in building your own community at United College? Learn more about residence life, explore living-learning communities, and book a campus tour to see what life at United could look like for you.