Over half of the student body population at Fitchburg State is made up of commuters. Whether you travel from a far off place like Pepperell or are literally minutes away in Leominster, a commuter's experience is going to be very different from a resident's. As a commuter, you will recognize a lot on this list, and if you're resident, here's a brief peek on how the other half lives.
1. 8 a.m.'s are a nightmare.
I know what you're thinking, "Aren't 8 am's a nightmare for anyone on campus?" Yes, early morning classes can be awful for any student, but depending on how far away you live determines how early you need to wake up, not to mention accounting for traffic, finding parking AND making it to class on time?...You get the picture.
2. You know what "the Lounge" is.
Whether or not you are a "lounge regular", there is no doubt that you have at least heard of the infamous commuter lounge. Can it get cramped at times? Absolutely, but if you ever just need a place to sit and chill for a bit, or if you're a commuter looking to meet new people, the lounge can be the perfect place for that. With such a diverse group of people you are likely to find at least one representative from major clubs such as Harmonic Velocity and Dance Club, and the Commuter Affairs Staff is always willing to help with whatever you may need.
3. Everybody knows your name...or doesn't.
Confession time: I've been mistaken for a resident several times ever since my freshman year simply because of how involved I am in campus life. There will always be a stigma that commuters aren't as involved as residents, but this isn't always the case. Sure, there are students that choose to come to school, go to their classes, and go straight to work or home, and there's nothing wrong with that. Someone I know went from doing nothing on campus to becoming a prominent student leader. As a commuter, you have your choice to be as involved or not involved as you wish.
4. "Should I stay or should I go?"
When taking or choosing classes, there is always that dilemma of to stay on campus, or not to stay. Most commuters will plan for this by either taking classes in rapid succession or giving themselves long breaks in between. Some may want to rest in the comfort of their home, others may have a job to get to. Whatever the reason, you are bound to see commuters once in a while exhausted from the constant back and forth.
5. "Yeah, I might make it."
Like every other University, our campus has night time events that can range from concerts to stand up comedy and everything in between. Unfortunately, if you have a long commute home, you may not be as likely to attend these events, even if you really want to. Many commuters will find a way to make it work, but just know if you're a resident having an event and don't see many commuters, it's not you, it's us.
6. You know or are a non-traditional student.
Remember when I talked earlier about 8 am's being a nightmare? Now picture being a commuter and having to get your children ready for school beforehand. Sounds nearly impossible right? Being a student and a parent, (sometimes single), is the reality for many non- traditional students on campus. I like to call these people, "superhuman." Not only do they manage their course load, but they also manage to take care of their families simultaneously. Shout out to these amazing students who do not get enough recognition for all they do!
7. "Okay, let's try lot number three..."
Commuters, I know you knew this one was coming. When it comes to finding a place to park on campus, the struggle is all too real. Since there are so many of us, you need to be on campus at the crack of dawn and then you might have a slight chance of securing a spot, but even that's not guaranteed. A typical situation for a commuter can involve going into the Commuter lot, Rec Center parking, and Ross only to find they are all full and then be forced to go to McKay. Oh and hopefully you figured this into your schedule, otherwise you're now 20 minutes late to class...
8. Commuter Cafe is your DAKA.
Unless you are a commuter with a meal plan or choose to pay between $6 and $9 depending on the time of day to eat in the dining hall, (not likely), you probably get your meals/snacks from Commuter. Located right across the Falcon Hub in Hammond, the Commuter Cafe has a selection of food from Subway to Build Your Own Burger. Prices can be steep such as 4 dollars for a small container of fruit, but the servers do their best to serve quality food. Speaking of top quality, the cashiers are made up of student workers and people like Sherry Walker who instantly bright up your day. I dare you to meet a more friendly and caring worker at Fitchburg State.
9. Lockers aren't just for high school.
This one can be a little less well known depending on how familiar you are with Hammond. All commuters are afforded a free locker located on the 1st floor of Hammond across from the Commuter Lounge and next to The Office of Student Development. Not only are you provided with your own lock, but this is the perfect way to store away items you don't want to leave in your car. To lighten your load, all you need to do is contact the Commuter Affairs Staff and apply for one through OrgSync!
10. "Can I crash at your place?"
Sometimes, no matter how hard a commuter tries, staying on campus for a night or two becomes the only option. Whether it's a blown up mattress in a townhouse, Mara, or sharing a bed, any place to stay is always greatly appreciated. Thank you to all the residents that have ever had a commuter stay with them, it helps out a ton and you guys are the real MVP.
