Lily,

Good that you are setting small and achievable goals like write one application a week.  Plus you are going into an environment that will support this effort, i.e. library.

About your flatmate, there is a book “The Four Agreements” (there is a follow up book as well on the Fifth Agreement as well), where the Second Agreement is: 2. Don’t Take Anything Personally –Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Easy to say, hard to do.

You may have better luck by trying to start a conversation next time you see her rather than just a “hello.”  When we get to know each other and find common ground then we won’t be strangers anymore.

Take care,
Mark