When high school students start looking into college options, they always want to go for that picture-perfect experience: going away from home and into the great unknown where there are parties, friendships to be made and an unlimited amount of freedom. For many students who are financially capable, this dream quickly becomes a reality through the application process however, some of us aren't so lucky and find ourselves in an altered state, far from our high-school dreams. If you've ever had to commute to school, this list is for you.
1. You can never find a parking spot.
Unless you want to get to school a good few hours before classes start, chances are you won't find a parking spot close to the main buildings, forcing you to walk...or park in an area you aren't supposed to and pray Campus Police won't give you a ticket. But let's face it, a ten dollar ticket isn't as bad as walking half a mile in the rain without an umbrella.
2. Your car is always a mess.
When people go to get in your car, you always have to apologize for the mess, simply because your car is your second home. Unlike residents, when you leave your room for the day you have to make sure you have everything you need—snacks, a change of clothes or a sleeping bag for the off-chance you have to pull an all-nighter in the library.
3. Making friends isn't as easy as you thought it would be.
Everyone thinks that making friends in college is as easy as it was in high school, and for those who live on campus it pretty much is. They bond with their floor mates and roommates during all those late night study sessions in the library, but for you, making friends isn't a cakewalk. Commuters already have a disadvantage entering the school year because residents have had a few days to get to know each other and form those insta-friendships everyone dreams about. This, coupled with the fact that you don't have access to any of the dorms or dining halls (basically all the hang-out spots) causes making friends to be extremely difficult, especially if you're an introvert.
4. At the first sign of snow, you either play hooky or hate your life.
In high school, there was nothing like staying up the night before a snow storm and watching your local news to see if school was cancelled. In college, the show must go on unless there's more than a foot and
enough teachers can't make it on to campus. Unfortunately, that courtesy doesn't extend to commuters, who have to get up extra early to shovel their driveways, warm up their cars and hope that the roads are plowed enough to make it through without crashing. Some days, fighting against the snow just isn't worth it and one of the perks of being a college student is no one is going to call your mom if you don't show up for class.
5. You've tried to steal food from the dining hall at least once.
Even though college dining halls are notorious for their predictable and sometimes questionable selection of food, they look pretty good when you don't have time to make a lunch as you're rushing to you car so you can get to your 8 a.m. on time. The question then becomes
do I really want to pay $8.00 for a slice of soggy pizza and some frozen french fries or do I want to pay for gas tomorrow?
6. 8 a.m. classes are the bane of your existence.
We all thought it would be easy; hell, we got up at the crack of dawn for 12 years without any huge problems, so why wouldn't we be able to do it in college? Homework and parties, folks, homework and parties. But while residents can literally wake up ten minutes before classes start, commuters have to plan their arrival to class, taking into account traffic, car trouble and weather, all while trying to suck down that double shot of espresso so we don't fall asleep during rush hour.
7. Saving gas is one of the most important things to you.
Not living on campus means you probably have to fill up your tank at least once or twice a week, if you're lucky. However, if you live more than twenty minutes away from campus, any extra trips home can break your bank account pretty quickly. This means you'll do anything to make sure that gas gauge stays above empty, even if you have to camp out for three hours in between classes and take power naps on random couches across campus.
8. Traffic is always a valid excuse for being late to class.
If anyone is going to be sympathetic to your plights as a commuter, it's your teachers. They too know how it feels to already be running late when you hit every light and get stuck behind someone who refuses to go the speed limit. So as long as you don't over-use this excuse, you're golden, and can continue to try to catch those few extra zzz's in the morning.
9. You have a Commuter's Corner.
Ah, the Commuter's Corner. Every group of commuters has one, whether they realize it or not. It's a place you gravitate towards while you're waiting for your classes to start or when you want to eat that PB&J you sloppily put together this morning. Whether it be your own personal corner or a place you share, every commuter has their spot, their claim on campus. And if you don't, you should probably get one before all the good ones are taken.
10. When you meet another commuter, you instantly connect.
Although it may be harder to find friends than you anticipated, the easiest connections you'll make will be with other commuters who know the struggle. They say that in order to make friends you need to gravitate towards people you have a lot of things in common with, and what better bonding is there than sharing war stories about trying to find a parking spot in the middle of a
snowstorm?
Living at home probably isn't how you imagined yourself while in college, but you have to admit, being able to go home to your own bed at the end of the day and escape the drama that comes with party busts and sharing a bathroom with strangers is one of the best feelings. That, and the knowledge that you won't be in crippling debt when you graduate, is enough to help anyone sleep soundly at night.
