Caitlin Klutz
Opinion Writer
When the phrase “college students,” is spoken, the thought of commuter and “untraditional”, transfer, parent, or even a combination of all three, students rarely come to mind. The college experience is changing with the numbers to prove it.
Every year, students of all kinds flock to the open campus of Pacific Lutheran University for many reasons, students find the programs that fit their wants, they like the style of campus, friendly faces, or they prefer smaller classes. The traditional way for any prospective college student seems to join the fall after high school graduation, live on campus, then proceed to go through a four-year bachelor’s program in the career of their choice.
However, over the years this path to education has changed, not only for PLU but other colleges around the country. At PLU, students have the chance to live off-campus, or at
home for the duration of their education.
Of the school’s student population, I am a part of the 55% commuting students. I reside in Fredrickson, Wa, making a 15-minute drive to campus. On a good day, I’ll only have to drive to campus and back home once.
Tristan Alamo ’21, a business marketing major, lives in Sumner, Wa, and takes a 20-25-minute drive to campus every day.
“Being a commuter student differs for me, having to wake up a little earlier, making sure I have everything I need to take for campus that day, and sitting through traffic and dealing with parking,” Alamo said.
He also works part-time in Sumner, averaging 20-25 hour sa week. Getting on and off-campus, attempting to be present at school events, and trying to tackle life outside of classes can be difficult.
Coming and going from campus is a difficult part of being a commuter student, however, the lack of connections that commuter students have with other students can also be tough.
Sarah Krogstad ’21, a music education major, shared some of her own commute-student struggles.
“The students are nice, yet I feel like I’m not a part of the student body completely because I’m not on campus 24/7,” Krogstad said.
With working, driving time, and distance itself, there is an absence in the connection that a lot of commuter students have with on-campus students.
There are some people with pre-existing notions that the only way to get a college degree is to enroll in the fall after high school and live on campus, soaking in the atmosphere of other students around each other. I’ve had family come up to me, non-intentionally throwing down my own college experience with phrases like, “Oh, it’s a shame that you’re not getting the real college experience.”
It’s true that there is an experience that you get while living on or very close to campus, but that doesn’t make me any less of a true PLU student. The “college experience” is changing, it’s different for everyone. It’s our job as commuters to make connections
with other commuters, changing the college experience.
