I dedicate seven and a half hours a week to driving to and from school. There are a lot of other things I could do with seven extra hours instead of going through countless tanks of gas; I could sleep in an extra hour, have an extra hour to do just a little bit more of cram-studying, or get through another episode of whatever series I’m watching on Netflix that night. Instead, I choose to drive past nothing but cornfields, listen to the one radio station that comes in the entire way there and constantly worry because I probably should have studied for that one exam just an hour longer.

It sounds awful -- the constant draining of my funds going to the gas industry, the sleep I’m missing out on, and the Netflix I’m not catching up on, but I really am thankful for those seven and a half hours I dedicate a week driving to and from school. Being a commuter student has it downfalls, as does almost everything in this world, but what I’ve learned from doing it for over a year now is it surprising has more pros than cons.

1. The one radio station that comes in actually plays really good music.

I use to describe my taste in music as “anything but country.” I actually can't believe I'm saying this but, after listening to it every morning I actually love starting my day with a little bit of sing-a-long country music.

2. It’s time to just be by myself.

With a schedule as scattered as mine, it's hard to find time to just sit and do nothing for 5 minutes. Well with an hour and half of driving a day, that's an hour of doing just that, sitting and doing nothing. It's really a beautiful thing.

3. I can just drive away from the temptation of partying all the time.

Seriously, the constant Snapchats, Instagram, and Facebook posts I see with all my friends chugging beers and getting down to some really good tunes look like a ridiculously good time. But the fact that I have the power to just drive away from that whole scene every day is something I am truly thankful for. It's a distraction that I just don't need.

4. I’m not trapped.

I can go anywhere, anytime and now that I have that freedom it's hard to wrap my mind around being confined to a dorm room in the same city every day.

5. I’m actually saving a lot of money regardless of the gas prices.

I don't have to cry when I look at my tuition bill.

6. I notice something new within all of the cornfields every day.

One day I'll have to take a detour through a town I never knew existed, others I'll see a horse and buggy that comes out of nowhere, and there's always a new fresh food stand waiting for visitors along the way.

7. My mom still cooks dinner for me and I’m not ashamed.

My meal plan is walking in the door to a home cooked meal every day. There's nothing better.

8. What even are shower shoes?

This one explains itself.

9. My cat is sitting right next to me as I write this.

I don't have to post about how much I miss my animals because they are all right here next to me. Let's be honest, they are better roommates than humans; they don't snore, they don't complain, and they are cute.

10. Most importantly, I actually learned how to study.

I am thankful for those seven and half hours a week because I owe it those cornfields for helping me get my priorities straight. I was forced to study because I couldn't walk out my door and immediately end up at a party. I found out I actually enjoy studying and learning, instead of memorizing everything for a test and forgetting 5 minutes after I turn it in.

There are a lot of things I've written here that I never thought I'd be saying but why stop now? In all aspects, being a commuter student saved my life, my education, and my future.