When thinking about college life, it’s easy to get caught up in the Hollywood ideal. Sure, Elle Woods made studying all night seem fun, and yeah, Bartleby Gains did seem to live it up while exploring education and throwing endless parties. Becca even made becoming the star of an A Capella club seem not only easy, but probable, and who could ever forget Notre Dame star, Rudy Ruettiger. Rarely, however, is there the thought that students don’t actually live on campus. The glorification of on-campus living does a disservice to the millions of commuter students who travel back and forth to school each day. Hey, they’re student’s, too! While it’s easy to feel disenfranchised as a commuter student, there are many ways to take part in college life and feel like a valued part of your school community.
Go Ahead, Join!
Joining a club or taking part in the volunteer activities offered at almost all colleges and universities is the first step to enjoying the college experience. Yes, in the beginning you may not know anyone, but joining a club centered around an activity you enjoy assures that you will be with people who have like-minded interests. Instead of standing around awkwardly hoping that no one notices you’re new, you can strike up a conversation about your experiences. Attempting to get to know people without having any shared experiences can be tough, that’s why joining an activity is crucial - you will already have something to talk about. Even more compelling is that you won’t have to stretch your interests to find something that is appealing. Most colleges offer hundreds of clubs - from music and sports to art and even horticulture.
Work On Campus
Commuters usually commute for a reason: it’s cheaper, there are responsibilities at home, housing elsewhere is more appealing, etc… However, almost all commuters have jobs, and most often, they are off-campus. So here’s an idea: try working on-campus. If you can finagle a position at your school, your co-workers will be fellow students or even classmates, allowing you to know more people and feel more involved in the campus community. Working on-campus also assures that you are familiar with the various buildings and departments at your school, as your duties will include working in places that you may have never thought about entering otherwise. Sure, you may have never set foot in a gym to workout, but working the front desk will give you contact with many students you may not see in your daily routine.
Take Part in Campus Sponsored Activities
Every college has departments dedicated to enhancing the student experience and they will regularly host events that are free to students or can be enjoyed for only a minimal fee. These include concerts, athletic events, comedy shows, and trips to off campus sites, such as museums. As a commuter, you may have to come back to campus to enjoy these events, which undoubtedly means getting out of work early, getting a ride, or just getting off your couch, but it will be worth it. Sharing new experiences with your fellow students will only help to make you feel like you belong and will enhance your overall college experience.
Although being a commuter can sometimes make you feel like you’re on the outside looking in, there are many ways to get involved and shake the feeling of being an outsider. Getting involved in clubs, campus-sponsored activities, and working at school are all good gateways to becoming more socially adept in an unfamiliar place. So the next time you have an opportunity to join - do it - Bobby Boucher did, and look how he turned out.
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