Commuting doesn’t have to be social suicide

The very first reaction people often give me when I tell them I’m a commuter is a slow,… The very first reaction people often give me when I tell them I’m a commuter is a slow, drawn out and sympathetic, “Oh.” I’m not exactly sure why. All I know is that once I tell my friends or classmates that I don’t live on campus, they look at me as if I’m the most unfortunate person in the world. I suddenly find myself showered with comments like, “You can stay at my apartment/dorm whenever you like” or “That’s probably a pain in the ass” or “I would die if my parents made me commute.”

Perhaps all these thoughtful remarks are justified. Yes, I’m sometimes unable to attend parties and important campus events. I usually can’t sleep in as late as I want to. And I guess I’m missing out on that “full college experience” everyone’s always talking about. But as shocking as it may seem, I like to commute and the decision to do so was not forced upon me against my will. It was a decision that I made and that I’m happy to have made for several reasons.

Money. I don’t have pay rent or room and board to live at home. Commuting saves me a lot of money and that is never a bad thing. With all the other expenses we college students have to worry about when it comes to books, tuition and more, it certainly helps to pocket a few thousand dollars. And the amount of money I don’t spend on room and board or rent goes toward other things, such as studying abroad or graduate school in the future. It’s reassuring to know that my bank account won’t go completely dry anytime soon.

Ease. Going from home to campus and back is very simple and cheap. If you’re like me and you live 30 minutes or less from Pitt, chances are there’s a Port Authority bus that can take you to Oakland and drop you off at your doorstep every day. And what’s more, the buses are free of charge to Pitt students as long as you show the driver your Pitt ID.

Dinner. I never have to make that grueling choice between Ramen noodles and a peanut butter sandwich.

Comfort. As cheesy as it may sound, I have to say, there’s no place like home. There’s nothing like the comfort of your own bed and your own room. The familiarity that comes with home is very calming amid all the stress that’s included in college.

These reasons continue to hold today, but I won’t deny that commuting was difficult for me when I first started at Pitt a year ago. During my first semester, I found that it wasn’t very easy to get involved with campus life and I felt somewhat disconnected from Pitt. This is one of the disadvantages to commuting and I’m sure that there are other commuters who feel the same way. But what we have to understand is that while commuting can have its occasional downsides, they can be prevented or dealt with.

So if that’s the situation you find yourself in, my advice to you is that living off-campus does not have to mean seclusion from college. It’s possible to be a part of Pitt by making a commitment to a student organization, working on campus and hanging out at Pitt on the weekends as well.

During my freshman year, I immediately joined and committed myself to several student organizations and I tried to be at every meeting. If there were times when I could not make a meeting because it was held too late in the evening, I would e-mail or call other members to fill me in. This way, I could still be in touch with what was taking place on campus.

Obtaining a job on campus also helped to develop my familiarity with and closeness to the school. As a part-time student employee at UPMC, I was able to work and spend more time on campus. I also tried to study or just hang out at Pitt during the weekends, when many campus events take place. The more time I spent on campus, the more I felt a part of the Pitt scene.

I realized that because Pitt does not surround me, it was necessary for me to surround myself with Pitt. Ultimately, I was able to become an active member of campus life and I met new people that I would not have met otherwise. The truth is that commuting does not have to be an obstacle to your college enjoyment.

Living at home also shouldn’t force you into surrendering your independence or your responsibility. You don’t have to rely on your parents as you may have done in high school. I didn’t want to let commuting turn me into a freeloader. So I do my own laundry, cook my own food sometimes and pick up groceries occasionally. Taking up the same responsibilities you would if you were living on campus prevents you from becoming dependent at a time when you should be experiencing independence.

For me, commuting is not as bad as it seems. If anything, it’s certainly not bad enough to warrant the sympathy of my peers. And while there are advantages to living on campus and off campus, commuting to me sort of feels like I’m getting the best of both worlds.

Elham doesn’t need a ride, but you can send her an e-mail at elk23@pitt.edu.