First-year roommates share more than four walls — they experience navigating the leap into college together. To get a peek at the ins and outs of the first semester on The Hill, we went right to the source — to first-year roommates Grace Acquilano ’22 and Abby Connolly ’22 who share a cozy room, decked out with band posters and string lights, on the first floor of Brooks-Mulledy Hall. We listened in while they bantered about classes, clubs and the transition into college life.
Has anything surprised you so far about your first semester at Holy Cross?
Abby: You know how in high school, there’s a hierarchy of seniors “owning” the school? Here, it’s not like that at all. Everyone’s on the same level — you can be friends with anyone. Sometimes I’ll be talking to a senior and I’ll think they’re a first-year student. I feel so cool! But it’s just normal here. I really like that.
Grace: Oh man, I don’t know. What do you think surprised me? I guess I was surprised by how many people you can meet, even though it’s 3,000 people. I recognize people everywhere I go. And I’ve noticed that once you do meet someone, you see them everywhere!
Abby: You do! I didn’t think certain people would remember me, but they still say hi, and it’s cool.
What has been the hardest thing about your semester so far? What’s been the easiest?
Grace: For me, the hardest thing has been getting adjusted to a whole new environment — living on your own, making decisions for yourself, managing your own time and not being on a schedule that your parents make for you. I’m pretty outgoing and I love meeting new people, so reaching out to different resources and finding new friends has been the easiest part of my transition.
Abby: The hardest thing was physics! Can I say that? I’m also really bad at going to bed at a good time.
Grace: You really are!
Abby: I’ve gotten so good at naps! But the easiest thing has probably been making friends, which I was so scared about. The last time I went to a new school was in fifth grade, so I didn’t remember how to make friends. So that was shockingly the easiest thing so far.
What about your friendship? Did you two hit it off right away?
Grace: There’s a story! It was July 31 or something when we had to enroll for classes and everyone’s Instagram stories from Holy Cross was like, “Oh, put pictures of your schedules!” So I, of course, did that. Abby messaged me on Instagram and was like, “Yo, we have acting together!” And then we started talking nonstop about how much we love theater and stuff. Then, we get the roommate assignments, and I was like “Abby Connolly…wait…that name is strangely familiar.” So I go back into my Instagram and realize this is the girl I’ve been talking to this whole time. It was just great.
Abby: When we were talking I was thinking, “Hmm…I wouldn’t mind if we were roommates. That would be kind of cool.” And then it happened!
Grace: Our acting class is small, too, so it’s really weird. We were meant to be together!