Finding Belonging: Why Our U.S. Sales Manager Joined Coly — and Why This Work Matters

This piece is a personal reflection from our Sales Manager, Thalia Cohen, in the United States, sharing her own college experience — the challenges, the gaps she witnessed, and the moment she realized how differently things could work. Her story captures why Coly exists, why it matters, and why she chose to join us in building a new standard for student belonging and housing.

When I entered college in 2020, amid the pandemic, I, like many of my peers, opted for random roommate selection. As naïve as it may sound, I was optimistic that I would instantly click with my roommate and form the kind of bond so many first years dream of. In the worst-case scenario, I figured the basic survey I had filled out would at least pair me with someone I could peacefully coexist with and maintain a distant but workable friendship.

Reality proved more complicated. Living with a stranger, especially during such unprecedented times, came with its own set of challenges. For most first-years, your roommate is your first point of contact in an unfamiliar environment. Moving away from home can be overwhelming, and having a safe, welcoming, and inclusive living situation is critical to student success.

Even before stepping foot on campus, I began to see flaws in the housing system. When I received my dorm and roommate assignment, I was surprised to learn I had been placed in a double with a boy, despite confidently requesting a roommate who shared my pronouns. After contacting the housing director, the mix-up was quickly resolved, and I was reassigned to a double with a girl. A good sign, or so I thought.

To be clear, this isn’t about placing blame. Accommodating thousands of students each semester is a daunting task. It’s stressful for students, but often an almost impossible logistical challenge for staff as well.

My new roommate wasn’t ill-intentioned, but we were polar opposites. Throughout our first semester, tensions grew. She often brought men from outside the college into our small space and, in an odd attempt to play cupid, shared my contact information with strangers in our college’s less-than-safe town. These were just some of the issues that eventually led to a room change, an experience that was disruptive and disappointing for both of us.

And I wasn’t alone. Two of my close friends at Conn, who now live happily together, also endured rocky first semesters with random roommates before requesting room changes. These early struggles made it harder for us all to find our footing.

Some may argue that difficult roommate experiences are a rite of passage, but I believe the transition to college is already stressful enough without adding the burden of feeling unsafe or uncomfortable in your own living space. While I was fortunate to eventually find my community and form lifelong friendships, many of my peers weren’t as lucky. Some even transferred schools after negative roommate experiences.

At Coly, we’re working to change this narrative. Rather than viewing housing as a logistical puzzle, we see it as the foundation of belonging and student success. College is a pivotal time for young adults, and the residential experience is often the first community students build away from home. It’s a space where they learn empathy, communication, and conflict-resolution skills that shape their growth far beyond college walls.

Coly helps universities take a more intentional, data-driven approach to cultivating that environment. By understanding students’ personalities, values, and interpersonal dynamics, housing teams can proactively create communities where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. This not only reduces conflicts and room changes but, more importantly, strengthens social-emotional learning and long-term retention by fostering authentic connections and a sense of belonging from day one.