1st PE Assignment: Esther Ra

Topic: Write a letter to your future college roommate.

Dear Roommate,

I believe that personal relationships can deeply enrich our lives, and I look forward to enjoying a wonderful relationship with you! I’ll tell you a little about myself. Some keep a careful distance with those they love for fear of getting hurt, but I believe it is better to have a heart broken than have no heart at all. I dearly love helping people, and if once I love someone, I will love that person come flood or fire – to the very bitter end. On the days before my English exams, I would spend the whole day – hours and hours – teaching other kids and helping them, and begin my own studying at 4.a.m. on the morning of the test day. Yet I will never push my feelings onto others, for fear of being a burden. Don’t get hurt if I don’t text or call or speak to you first; I will always be overjoyed to have you text or call or speak to me.

I adore honesty.

I detest prevarication and two-facedness more than almost anything else, for an appearance of kindness invites undeserved trust. I would far rather have an outright enemy than a friend who secretly dislikes me and talks behind my back. If any of my habits annoy you, please, don’t hesitate to tell me. “Could you turn off your light?”—yes, of course I can! I will never get angry at you for telling me honestly about my faults, either. I am flexible, willing to amend what gives offense to others, and supple underneath the rod of discipline. I will forgive anything you say to me, as long as you say it with good intentions. I might feel hurt sometimes, sad perhaps, but never angry – never resentful.

However, I remain an independent person. Though I am willing to remain cheerful and accepting under honest comments to me, I will never be forced to act for what I think is unjust or wrong. I have a strong sense of duty and always strive to fulfill it. I can lay aside my convenience—but not my sense of right and wrong, just to please another.

I sleep and rise early, because I believe a quiet morning is one of the best times of the day. I love reading and dislike gossip. I love the fragrance of coffee but I don’t drink it. I prefer classical music to rock and Jane Austen to James Joyce. And I love to write.

Now you have a basic idea of what kind of person I am.

So, what kind of person are you? Do you like chocolate chip ice cream, or vanilla? Are you a speaker or a listener? Do you prefer the light on when you sleep, or off? Do you sing in the shower? Do you like the windows open?

There are a thousand questions I have to ask you, but the future awaits us when I can ask them all, face to face. I can’t wait to find out about your personality, your likes and dislikes, your pet peeves and idiosyncrasies. And you.

Esther Haelan Ra