Commuting to campus is not as bad as you think

By Danna Bertel •

As an incoming freshman in fall 2021, I had to make an important decision that would affect the following four years of my college life: stay at home or live in a dorm.

Writing the pros and cons on a piece of paper made me question whether dorm life would truly benefit me. If I lived in a dorm, I would be leaving behind a queen-sized bed, homecooked meals and the comfort of my own room. If I moved to campus, I would be going to a different environment 30 minutes away from my family and gaining a sense of independence. After weeks of pondering, I chose the most economical option and stayed at home.

As my first semester at NSU flew by, the truth is, at times, commuting felt time-consuming, inconvenient and exhausting. I had to plan my mornings to have enough time to get dressed, eat breakfast and arrive to class on time. There were times I missed out on events that usually occurred at night.

Even then, I don’t regret my decision to commute.

At home, I am filled with a supportive environment and privacy when needed. The feeling of getting home after a hard day is something I wouldn’t exchange for a small space on campus.

I  can’t  deny  that  making friends was a hassle, especially as an introvert. That just meant I needed to go out of my way to make friends. The small-sized classes came as a benefit to me, as I was able to connect with others and form friendships. However, these connections would only last the span of a semester, leaving me back where I started. These situations pushed me to try to get involved somehow on campus. Therefore, when the opportunity to get a job at NSU’s student-run newspaper came to me, I took it. After working at The Current, I found myself surrounded by friends that shared the same career aspirations and goals. Finding a community or group of people who share the same interest as you is the best way to make friends. NSU has around 465 organizations, meaning everyone can find at least one thing they enjoy and be a part of.

It’s true that as a commuter, I missed the opportunity to move away from home, have roommates and take care of myself. I have to put in more effort, and it takes a bit longer to meet new people. But for me, these challenges make my college experience more worthwhile, allowing me to grow as a person. As more years of higher education await me, I am more willing to risk stepping out of my comfort zone and create my own college experience.