Like hundreds of individuals across the country, I find myself in a City college. A commuter school. A school that educates me hope for a future and the ability to stay home.
Despite being happy in attending a commuter college, I have heard many comments including “you are missing the true college experience.” I find myself in disagreement with those who believe that the college experience comes with leaving home and finding yourself in new surroundings. I see that I don’t need to dorm, go to an expensive school or away to college, and pay a significant amount of money for rent and tuition. The ability to go to a commuter school allows people to gain an affordable education regardless of their situations outside of the classroom. The availability of this knowledge will enable people of all ages, professionals, and independent individuals to gain their education irrespective of what backgrounds they come from. Like these individuals, I can accommodate my ability to accomplish numerous tasks with the full ray of opportunities that exist on a local level.
So, what does it truly mean to go to a commuter school?
It means that I can stay home with family and save a lot of money. It says that as a child of immigrant parents, going to school is a bit more affordable. It also means I don’t have to graduate with a significant debt rather any. It means that I get stay in New York City and gain numerous opportunities to network with people in my field. It means I don’t have to worry about living off of Ramen and getting home cooked meals.
When identifying the benefits of staying home, I find that I can accomplish more with my life and achieve goals that I would have been able to do so if I have uprooted myself and left home to gain the “college experience.” Being able to attend the City University of New York (CUNY), means that I have an extensive ray of classes which allow me to pick a schedule of my preference. It gives me the opportunity to work on and off campus. It allows me to interact with people of all ages and in various fields. I can attend a university where I learn not only from my classes but also from my peers and colleagues within the school.
Like many benefits that come with going to a local college, there are many downfalls as well. Some of the downfalls may include, hundreds of students competing for limited classes to ensure they graduate in time, adjunct professors, and even rising prices for CUNY schools. These flaws, may not allow students to allow always students in the schools ensure their goals are completed in a set time. But, like every goal set, there will still be road bumps that may slow people down, in the case of commuter colleges, the goals to graduate will be something everyone can ensure happens.
Thus, like myself, many can reach far with their decision to go to their local schools and gain a college experience that may defy the average “college experience.” The availability of a local college and one's attendance in it allows everyone to achieve a degree and accomplish multiple things that will enable people to go far in their chosen career paths.
