Friday, September 28, 2012

On Campus.

Commuter students do not have the luxury of returning to a dorm, though spending countless hours in your vehicle can be prevented. 


Class Schedule.

Most colleges allow you the opportunity to organize your class schedule, arranging it in your favor, and saving an abundance of time. For me, I scheduled all my classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, allowing Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturdays to do as I please. 

The downside: I spend 8 hours three days a week on campus. Though it may not seem like a long time, comprehending all the material covered in each class, may be difficult at times. Also, exams tend to fall on the same day. Four consecutive, vigorous, mentally-draining tests can never be joyful. 

The upside: I have an abundant amount of time, without interruption, to study, work, or catch up on sleep/relax. The amount of gas is limited, and I save two commutes a weak, thus saving cash. 

The point: When considering your class schedule, take into consideration all of the points explained above. One thing that may work for me, may not work for someone else, spreading out classes may be beneficial to you. Also, one thing I may do next semester, is scheduling all my classes in the same buildings, or group them at least. Thus, preventing the 5 minute walk in the rain, or being close to the parking lot to exchange books, or grabbing a bite to eat.


The Parking Lot.

Luckily the college I attend, provides many commuter parking lots, spread throughout the campus. During hot days, I find it luxurious to park in the shade, so when I retreat to my car to eat lunch it is cool and comfortable. Another factor to consider when choosing a parking lot would be; position. Try to position your car in a place away from other vehicles. Squeezing into a space, may result in various dents to the side of your vehicle. Though we may be adults now, students still don't get the concept of hitting another car with your door, isn't the nicest thing to do. 


Familiarity.

The last, and possibly the most crucial concept, is becoming familiar with what your campus has to offer. As a commuter, school seems more like a job, and your unlikely to become familiar with areas outside your work space. Exploring various building can be very convenient, some things you may want to seek out are; libraries, learning assistance centers, and of coarse; cafeterias. Knowing where you can find help, study places, or food, will save you time. You will also reduce the situations of humility, in asking for directions, because you don't know where to find a slice of pizza. Becoming familiar with your campus will ultimately prove essential by providing yourself with comfort in down time between classes.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

On the Road Again...

Fortunately, I only have to tolerate a 20-25 minute commute each day, rather then 45-60 minutes as some of the fellow commuters have shared. Though, it is incredible the obstacles that this short period of time can generate. Some that are aggravating, others that are just plain bizarre...


The Drive.

Growing up in a relatively small town, driving through the city with stop-and-go traffic each day, takes some getting used too. From experience, I can suggest one key component to ease each morning commute: time is everything. Having an adequate amount of time is ideal. 

Each day, leaving 5-10 minutes early allows a "safety net" of sorts, for the obstacles that may occur. Whether it be the construction work (which is currently being developed on my main route) or the mad man with impulsive road rage that always seems to target you. In addition, I have generated a list that I believe, as a commuter, should be noticed:

  1. Parking
  2. Alternative Routes
  3. Cops
  4. Gas
  5. Construction
  6. Traffic
  7. Weather

It may be hard to believe but not everyone obeys the speed limits. Though as a commuter, being late for an exam isn't particularly a good way to start a day.  Knowing your way around town, and having a variety of back roads that you can depend on in the event of construction or road closures, or even for avoiding heavy traffic hours. Gas, the most obvious necessity, should be greatly observed, from gas stations, prices, and even your vehicles fuel tank can come a long way in preventing disastrous situations. I find it helpful to keep a 10 dollar bill in my car for the occasional times I find myself with no money on me. Weather is another notable experience you may face. Down pours often cause slower traffic and planning ahead is key. These are just a few of the often overlooked obstacles a beginning commuter may face, but being aware will help in finding a solid routine to the commuting lifestyle.


The Weird and Bizarre Scenarios of Commuting...


By far the favorite part of my commute, is witnessing some of the strange encounters on my daily drive. The most memorable, due to the irony, was last week when I had to stop, as a chicken crossed the road (this is in the middle of the city). Another one of my favorites would be the various objects in the road; trash, large boxes, and once even a girls bike standing straight up with the kick stand out? Other things that are just surprising, are how some of the other people on the road can be so arrogant. Squeezing/forcing themselves into the lane and riding as close to the back of my car as possible are some examples, though every now and then there will be some considerate drivers who let you in a line of backed up traffic for example. The point being: pay attention. Other then the fact you'll likely to prevent accidents, but also it is a little amusing!

Sunday, September 9, 2012

The Commuter Survival Pack

Commuting can be a dangerous lifestyle, and requires much preparation. From leaving the driveway at 8:15am to returning home by 5:00pm, there will be certain necessities to ease your way throughout the day. 


The Backpack.

First and foremost lets take a look at the backpack:
  1. Laptop
  2. Quality (bigger then most) Backpack.
  3. College Ruled Spiral Notebooks
  4. Pens/Pencils
  5. Laptop
  6. Headphones
  7. Calculator
  8. Laptop
  9. Individual Class Folders
  10. Laptop
As you may have guessed by the list above, bringing your laptop along with you is a must. Finding yourself with an hour of spare time between classes, without a laptop you will find that any productive time becomes increasingly difficult. I would like to point out that "spiral notebooks" for writing paper and "individual class folders," whether you have that specific class during the present day, is a must. Having these two items is very helpful in the down time for studying.


Inside the Car.

Another factor you may want to consider is what you bring along with you within your vehicle:
  1. Lunchbox
  2. Phone Charger
  3. CD/Ipod/Iphone Stereo Player
  4. Class Text Books
  5. Jacket/Rain Coat
  6. Umbrella (optional)
  7. Spare Change
  8. Water Bottle
Commuting demands that your vehicle becomes a partial living space during the day, and being prepared is certainly convenient to reduce the stress that college produces. During the drive, luxurious features such as a phone charger and personal music are always nice. Also, I strongly recommend packing a lunch each morning, this helps financially and is much less expensive then the $8.00 chicken wrap at the local 7-eleven. Spare change is handy for tolls (if required) or campus vending machines, and I even found useful for making photo-copies at the university library that requires a fee. Class textbooks, again for studying. is nice to keep in the back seat so you won't have to carry the extra weight in your bag but is still accessible. Preparing a survival pack within you vehicle is a convenient way to keep personal items, that you can access during the day (similar to what a dorm room has). 

If you still have questions after reading this blog of what to bring or not bring with you, I will gladly leave feedback based on my personal experience!

Sunday, September 2, 2012

The Decision.

Why? Why not?

Why should I commute? Why should I not commute? As the preparation for college began, these two simple questions circulated my thoughts day and night, seven days a week. The debate continued throughout the summer. Childish questions arose like; 

"Will I miss out on the Full College Experience?"

"How will I make friends?''

and of coarse...

"Can I really live with my parents much longer?" 

These questions will forever change the path in which my life will follow these next six years. 


Why?

Why should I commute?

I began to realize that the questions I was asking myself before where more of my wants then needs. I started to think of the bigger picture, my future. Instead of paying upwards of $14,000 a year for room and board, I could be paying $20 a week for gas and enjoy home cooked meals and a familiar bed. I would have a whole entire room too myself, where I could focus on my school work and rest in peace. There would be no need to wait in line for a shower, or even walk across a campus to get breakfast all before my 9am English class started. 



Why Not?

Why should I not commute?

As an 18 year old this was by far the easiest to justify. Did I really want my mom still doing my laundry. It is that time in my life to fall from the nest, and I would really prefer to do so. Although, other questions arose as well. Driving 30 minutes to be on time for a 9am class isn't very appealing, neither is spending an hour between classes walking around aimlessly. Living with my fellow classmates would spark friendships and maybe even relationships. I would have a better opportunity to immerse myself in campus activities, and have all the resources I need for school literally at my doorstep. 

The Decision.

As the time drew near to make a decision, and with a full blown venn diagram in the middle of my brain, I outsourced for a compromise. Luckily, at the University of New England, I was able to consider off-campus housing. Although it did come with a few hoops to jump through, and after a vast amount of appeals to the housing department, I was finally granted the privilege to reside in an off-campus apartment. Unfortunately, I will still face struggles in fulfilling the college experience by not dorming, but at least I will create my own college experience in the process.