We have all seen those college students who seem to never leave the lounge areas. In fact, it seems entirely possible that they live in those common areas, huddled on a couch, swathed in warm blankets, with a cup of hot tea and a pile of books on a nearby table. You begin to wonder who these people are. They’re the sort of student who always seems to be around, but you have a hard time remembering their name or where you know them from.
These mysterious beings are known in simple terms as “commuter students.” Commuter students don’t live on campus, and if you ask your friends if they know “so and so,” your friends will probably give you a crazy look. However, if you ask your friends if they know “that weird person who’s always hanging out in the library surrounded by school materials,” the odds are fairly strong that they will know who you mean.
So what is it with commuter students hanging around campus when they don’t live there? Why would anyone in their right mind want to spend extra time on campus? Are commuter students crazy? Possibly.
As a commuter student myself, I’ve decided to debunk a few myths about my group of people:
1. Commuter students can’t afford to live on campus.
This one is partly true; not every student can afford to pay for tuition and expensive school housing. Then again, not many of the students who do live on campus can afford the expense without taking out loans. Besides, some people just need their space and don’t like the idea of living with strangers.
2. Commuter students don’t want to be involved.
Personally, I always think I’m going to miss important events since I don’t live on campus, so I try and spend a lot of time hanging around social spots on campus to keep my ears open concerning upcoming events. Believe it or not, commuter students do want to be involved with campus life! The problem comes along when weekly newsletters only highlight certain events happening on campus, leaving many commuter students unaware of local activities.
3. Commuter students are loners.
Absolutely untrue! Commuter students want to meet new people and have friends to hang out with just like everyone else. Since we don’t live on campus; however, commuter students often feel left out as so many on-campus students seem to be incredibly close. Sure, some commuter students are incredibly introverted, like myself, but that doesn’t mean we always want to be alone. After all—college isn’t solitary confinement!
4. All commuter students are health nuts.
Look, just because commuter students often have easier access to a fully stocked kitchen than on-campus students, that does not mean we are all crazy healthy 24/7. I have a few good commuter friends who are incredibly healthy and spend half their free time in the kitchen. Not everyone is like that! Besides, there are many on-campus students who eat healthily, too! I once had an on-campus classmate bring in a carton of green peppers and eat them during class. That’s not my cup of tea, but hey, everyone has their quirks.
5. Finally, the big one: Commuter students are socially awkward.
This myth implies that on-campus students are not socially awkward and that only commuter students can be socially awkward, which is completely incorrect. Even though we do not live on campus and spend time with the same group of people (hall mates, roommates, classmates, and so on), that does not mean we don’t know how to carry on a pleasant conversation. Sure, I’m a bit of a nerd (actually, a lot of a nerd), and I know a bunch of commuter students who are nerds. So what? There are a bunch of crazy people on campus! Just because you don’t see us hanging out with people all the time does not mean we are socially inept freaks.
Let’s face it: No matter if you are an on-campus or commuter student, we all go to the same school, so let’s be civil and kind to one another. Besides, a commuter may just invite you off campus for a weekend getaway at their house!