For those of you who commute to the UConn campus (like me), you very well know the struggle of doing it every day. From the parking situation, having to bring your own food, and not having a comfy dorm to go back to when you have breaks between classes, being a commuter demands a lot out of a person. It can be difficult to really experience the “college life”. But don’t worry: there are certainly plenty of commuter students at UConn who go above and beyond to fit their personal lives and their college lives into these four short years.
Mike Marandino happens to be one of those stand-out commuter students.
Age: 19
Graduation Year: 2019
Hometown: Tolland, CT
Major: Management and Engineering for Manufacturing
UConn Involvement: Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Parkour Club, 3D Printing Club
Off-Campus Involvement: Esteem Manufacturing Corp., All-Plumbing Repair Inc., Knights of Columbus
Relationship Status: Ladies, he’s single ;)
Let’s start off with a simple question: What made you decide to go to UConn?
MM: UConn is practically my backyard. I grew up close to the area, and I was familiar with it. Attending UConn was like going to a new world in an existing world. Also, a goal of mine is to be able to graduate with no debt, and UConn was able to offer that to me. Plus, UConn is a great school, so for it to be 20 minutes away is very convenient.
What is your favorite thing about UConn so far?
MM: Definitely my fraternity (shout out to the Phi Delta). The sense of brotherhood and looking out for one another is something I never really experienced growing up since I was the oldest child. But the guys there made me feel welcomed and included, and I know that those guys are people who will always have my back.
Do you live with your family?
MM: Yes, I do. Honestly, I don’t see my family much unless I have the time for them. I’m out of the house really early and get back late at night, so their schedules rarely match up with mine. On the rare occasion I get out of class early, I typically pick up my younger siblings from school. It is always nice to be able to do those little things for them when you have the chance.
Are there times you’ve considered moving out of the house to on-campus housing or an off-campus apartment?
MM: I’ve saved up a lot of money from summer jobs for the sole purpose of possibly moving out at some point. I typically watch the apartment market just to get a feel for the prices. I have also written up a couple of mock budgets to see if it is something I can manage on my own and to see how feasible it is. Moving out of the house is something I want to do soon.
What are some things that you like about commuting?
MM: For one, having a car around campus is very nice. It gives you such a sense of freedom to come and go whenever you feel like. The cost of commuting is also a plus because I only have to pay for tuition. I can only imagine how difficult it’d be to pay for housing and a meal plan on top of the tuition. Plus, I like having my own bedroom and bathroom.
And dislike?
MM: I never get anytime to sleep or eat. I rarely have any spare time. Probably one of the toughest things is the ability to meet people and make friends. People living on campus have a much easier time with this. As a commuter, I have to go out of my way to make friends in classes and clubs.
How do you find the time to manage your personal and school life as a commuter student?
MM: Google Calenders is a lifesaver when it comes to managing my life. And a lot of scratch paper to schedule and make plans. I am always thinking about what I am doing next, constantly planning things and making sure I add in the buffer time it takes for me to get somewhere.
How has commuting shaped you to be the person you are today?
MM: So it’s kind of funny, but when I go out with my friends, I’m seen as the “dad” of the bunch: driving people around everywhere, making sure people are safe and on time to places, all because I have a car and I utilize that perk to helps others around me. In addition, I have a younger brother with Duchesne Muscular Dystrophy, and he’s someone I am really close to, as his caretaker and as his brother. I always have to try to manage my time in order to be around to help him out as well. As a commuter, I have to be able to manage my time when getting to school or getting places: if someone on campus wakes up late for a class, they’re able to get there in about 10 minutes. If I wake up late for a class, I’m probably going to be about an hour late, or miss the class by accident. It’s really difficult sometimes, but it really has shaped me into adulthood in a way.
Is commuting something you’d recommend for students who live close to campus?
MM: Honestly yes, because in this day and age, student loans are overbearing so it is best to minimize expenses associated with college as early as possible. It is also nice having a car as an underclassman. While being a commuter its cons, its pros really outweigh the cons. As much as I complain about the commuter life, I wouldn’t want to trade it for the world.
All images provided by Mike Marandino