Clearing the Misconceptions of Commuting
Generally, when you are commuting, it is stressful. Yes, you must put up with tight schedules, train delays, etc. We absolutely get it–it’s unnecessary stress and can be a waste of everyone’s time. Accommodations in Boston do not always allow students to have friendly choices due to a high cost of living on top of the soaring rent. Some students usually live with their parents until they can find a decent job to allow them to move out on their own or they share a living space with other people and may even end up living very far away.
As a commuter myself, especially a female, I can understand the need to travel back and forth from campus safely. In the evenings, the anxiety of walking home from the station arises, specifically, on nights when my classes ended around 8:15 p.m. And let’s not forget the evenings I need to study for an exam the next day. I am also aware that there are other common stereotypes of commuter students like: we cannot make a lot of friends, and how we don’t have time to be involved on campus. This is why I felt the need to write this blog to clear some of these misconceptions.
In my earlier years at UMass Boston, there were not any dorms, so frankly, it was supposed to be harder for me to make friends and be a part of the community. I have been living in an apartment in Dorchester since my freshman year not too far from school, which is only one stop away from the JFK/UMass Red Line station, but it can take around 30 minutes on foot. Additionally, as an international student, I was not familiar with the transportation system and the neighborhoods back then, so I felt forced to go home early every day. Yet, as time went by, I have managed to be engaged on-campus, worked three jobs while maintaining my relationships with friends who are now scattered throughout the Boston and Massachusetts area.
Going to college, especially from another country, I set a goal to make the most of my experience. I also wanted to learn about the culture of the U.S. and UMass Boston in general because they were so foreign to me. I took those very steps by taking on volunteering opportunities on-campus. From being a mentor to representing my home country at the university’s diversity celebration (Of All for All), to having the responsibilities to recruit participants for the event. One thing led to another, I then took a bolder step by applying to various positions on campus without having a lot of work experiences then and joining different student organizations as well. I have been a part of Delta Sigma Pi which is a professional business fraternity on-campus where I got to meet with a lot of students in my major. Through this organization, I have been able to find a support network that has become my family, friends and colleagues. I have been working at the Gerontology Department as an administrative assistant which allows me to meet and get to know the staff on campus. I then joined the Women in Business which is another student organization on-campus for business majors that advocates for and empowers female at the workplace.
In wanting to meet more people and learn about their stories while enhancing my work experiences at the same time, I picked up a tutoring position at the College of Management which allows me to help lowerclassmen excel in their academics. Eventually, I became a Community Ambassador for the office of Off-Campus Living while remaining an active member in the student organizations I was apart of to keep myself involved in the UMass Boston community. Recently, I was invited to represent the Off-Campus Living Office on the Vice Chancellor’s Student Leadership Council to offer my experiences in bettering the university and the student body. But enough about me. I hope you get the point…it is possible to still be an active community member no matter how far you live!
I think it’s easy to have the habit of getting to school and leaving as soon as you can but if you set a goal, like dedicating 30 mins every day to meet new people from your class, a student organization, attend an event on campus, meet up with your Professor during office hours–not just about your academics but to talk about things outside of class. Eventually, these encounters can enhance or transform your experience as a commuter student. In my opinion, taking these very small steps is very crucial in introducing yourself to the dynamics on-campus as well as helping you balancing your academic, social, and work life at the same time. I know different commuters also have various priorities, and they can be somewhere from getting to class on time to having a job that they use to help support family members and loved ones. It can be exhausting as a commuter student who is trying to make the most out of their time but trust me, once you graduate from college, it can be very rewarding.
Here is some additional advice from other commuters at UMass Boston:
“Don’t let the stress of commuting get you down, it saves you a lot of money and you’ll be thankful later. I wouldn’t say commuting is a waste of time necessarily, you can get a LOT of schoolwork done on the commuter rail” –Cathy W.
“We won’t receive the same college experience as what you’re seeing on the media, which is mostly stereotypical American college student. Commuting can be busy, but the UMass Boston community is resilient in finding ways to make it work. I’ve met mother’s, veterans, and classmates working two jobs at once who were the sweetest folk I’d ever met—commuter students would always be willing to make time and get to know you if you open up to them.” –Marcos H.
“I’d suggest finding more information about student organizations on-campus that you can join to help you meet new people or someone who shares a similar commuting experience. This can help you feel a better sense of belonging in the UMass Boston community” –Tashawnee G.
“Sometimes things can mess up your schedule because of the public transportation getting delayed and sure it’s not ideal but that’s why you should always have a backup plan, or multiple, and be more forward-thinking in preparing for different scenarios.” Kristof T.
“Maybe spending time between classes, if you have some, somewhere on campus in places like the library or campus center to meet new people.” Lauren Q.