Its your junior year of high school and you are counting down the days until you graduate. You honestly can't wait to get out of this place already; You're dreaming of bigger and better things, new experiences, and most of all, "the total college experience". You're ready for the roommates, the new friends, the parties, the freedom, decorating your new room, you're even ready to learn. It's so close, you can almost taste it.
Flash forward two years and you're sitting on a city bus, cursing all the traffic because you're about to be late for your eight A.M. class again. You're looking out the window and thinking to yourself, "man, why is commuting such a pain?".
If you're a commuter, you'll understand what I mean when I say that commuting is both a blessing and a curse.
The Curse
1. The actual commute.
Odds are that if you commute, you travel roughly an hour to get to class, and an hour home. That is a lot of time spent traveling that you could be using to squeeze in some activities instead.
2. The commute expenses.
Not only do you have to spend so much time getting to class, but you also have to pay for it. Monthly train/bus tickets are not cheap. At all. Even if you drive, the amount of gas you burn through isn't cheap either.
3. The get in and get out mentality.
Often, commuters feel the need to head straight home once they've finished their classes for the day. Because who wants to get home even later than they already will? The commute home sometimes stops students from participating in school activities because chances are, they're going to have to wait around because it doesn't fit with their schedule. And it's not much fun to wait around for something to start when you don't have a comfy dorm room to wait in.
The Blessing
1. You still live with your parents.
You walk in from that dreadful commute to a loving family that waited for you to get home so you could all have dinner together. Does it get any sweeter than that?
2. You're saving so much money.
Your monthly commuting fees really aren't that bad when you compare it to dorming expenses. Plus, you can make your own coffee in the morning instead of buying it at the overly priced Starbucks on campus.
3. The actual commute.
Yeah, it's also a blessing. I have an hour train commute each way, and it gives me the time that we all wish we had in the morning on the way to class. I can have breakfast without rushing, study a little more before an exam, work on some assignments, read, or even squeeze in a nap.
Although commuting to college 4-5 days out of the week can sometimes take it's toll, it could always be a lot worse. Sure, you have to wake up so much earlier, go to sleep earlier, and you better make sure that you don't forget anything important at home. But hey, you're getting an education and really that is the most important thing. If anything, you're probably focusing more on your education because you are a commuter. You aren't constantly surrounded by your friends, loud roommates, and "the total college experience". You have the ability to escape the college setting everyday and go back home, where you can study in peace, or not study at all. It's all up to you.
