If you’re thinking about becoming a commuter in college, like me, get ready to wake up earlier than everyone else and still be late for class. It’s okay, though there are definitely benefits to commuting.
People ask me all the time if I regret being a commuter, if I feel like I’m missing out on the college experience, or if I’m bored living at home with my mom. And my honest answer to all of those questions? No, I don’t regret any of it. For the past three years, I am happy and grateful for the experiences and choices I’ve made. In addition to saving money, I think that living at home has taught me better time management skills (even if I’m still working on getting to class right on time) and better social skills since I can’t just open my bedroom door at home and have all of my friends down the hall from me. I have to make an effort to see friends on campus, and that’s okay! One of the best decisions I’ve made at Cabrini was to join a Living and Learning Community called Cabrini Cruisers in my first year, which really helped me achieve my goals and meet people. This group is made up of students who commute every day, and you end up taking a bunch of classes together.
So, when you’re spending 40 minutes stuck in traffic on the Blue Route, trying to ignore the fact that your classmates probably haven’t rolled out of bed yet, remember that you are working hard for your college education, perhaps harder than others, and in the end, college is what you make it, even when it’s a little bumpy along the way.