Two years ago I made the decision to stay home for college. A year and a half later, now as a sophomore, I have gained some interesting insight on being a commuter through the experiences I have had. Along with all the benefits we have, we certainly do have some unfortunate struggles! Keep reading to find out the biggest struggles we face as college commuters!

1. Realizing you forgot something at home.

There is nothing worse than driving 25-30 minutes to class and realizing you forgot an assignment, a book, or lunch at home. The journey home to get said item isn't a simple five-minute walk back to your dorm room.

2. Finding parking.

Going to a college with 4,000 undergraduate students, all with cars, and only having about 1,200 parking spots is the definition of a struggle. If you don't have an early morning class, good luck finding a prime parking spot in bad weather. May the odds be ever in your favor.

3. Not being able to nap between classes.

As college students who frequently pull all-nighters in order to get assignments done on time, we rely heavily on midday naps. Normally, college students have the luxury of walking five minutes to their dorm and getting a power nap in before their next class. However, for us commuters, the struggle is real. If you are in desperate need of a place to nap, you better have a pillow and blanket in the trunk of your car because that's the only place available to catch some z's.

4. Finding money for gas.

Driving to and from school every day, really takes a toll on your car and likewise your wallet. You'll often catch commuters paying for gas in singles or quarters just to make sure they can get home late at night.

5. Living out of your car.

Say so long to the days of having a clean car! Having to pack all your books, breakfast, lunch, and any extra outfits into your car everyday, really takes a toll. Your car will shortly become a reflection of how your life as a college student is: a mess.