Let’s be honest. We have all had our fair share of “oops, I did it again” 2018 moments (cue Britney). I, for one, did the absolutely unthinkable this year: I moved back in with my parents in Vaughan. Tragic!
My current commute to school involves a 15 minute drive to the subway and a 45-plus minute subway ride. This makes my ten minute walk to school in 1L seem like a literal walk in the park. Having commuted to U of T for four years during my undergrad, and having lived downtown for one year, during 1L, the following is my list of the pros and cons of commuting to school.
Commuter Cons
There are clearly many cons associated with commuting to law school. For one, commuting eats up a lot of time in the course of a week. My daily two hours spent commuting adds up to a whopping ten precious hours of my life a week. Thinking about how fit I could be if I invested those ten hours into the gym, or how well-rested I’d be if I was able to sleep two more hours a night, makes it very hard to argue that commuting does not suck. While doing readings during your commute is an option, if you are anything like my distracted self, people-watching makes it difficult to get anything done.
Furthermore, coming downtown has truly turned into a commitment. Whereas last year I could sneak home between classes for a nap or a bite to eat, this year, when I come to school, I am there to stay. This has made packing for school an art that I have mastered. Everything needed for daily survival must come with me: breakfast, lunch, dinner, chocolate in case I’m happy for some reason, chocolate for when I get sad, every charger I own, etc. It’s for this reason that my school bag (also known as Mariangela’s house, trailer, and baggage) is the size of a suitcase.
Commuting also dictates when I can and cannot leave school, as I often find myself staying later at school in an attempt to avoid rush hour. Conversely, being forced to study on campus instead of at home has its pros. The libraries near my home are not open late and studying at home is difficult. Like many, I am extremely unproductive at home. But that lack of productivity is exacerbated by the fact that I live with an extremely large, Italian family (whom I love, but who do not understand the concept of “the whisper” or “personal space”).
Lastly, I have found it more difficult this year to be involved at school. It was much easier to meet a study group or attend an event when I was within walking distance from where it took place.
Commuter Pros
Although there are many cons associated with commuting, there are also some benefits that I have enjoyed. One of the most significant benefits is the amount of money I am saving this year by living at home. I have also found it easier to make healthy choices with regards to my diet. Whereas last year I found myself picking up food on the go and never really having time to cook, I am now eating more wholesome meals (Shout out to my parents!). Although I have to pack a lot of food for the day, it forces me to meal prep and be more conscious about what I am choosing to fuel my body with.
The last, and arguably best, thing that I have enjoyed about commuting to school is the surprising positive effect that it has had on my mental health. Looking back, I feel as though some of the stresses and anxieties that I experienced in 1L were caused by the fact that I, at times, felt too bound to the law school. I think that living so close to the school made it easy to spend way too much time there. This year I found that my physical distance from the law school has really forced me to be more balanced about how I spend my time. It has enabled me to internalize the fact that being a law student is only a part of who I am–something that I found hard to remember in 1L at times. Further, being away from the school has allowed me to spend more time talking to my family and my non-law friends about things that do not involve the riveting debate about “Come on! Was that really a contract? Or, maybe it was just a gift this whole time!”
Suffice it to say that commuting is possible and something to consider! In my opinion, the benefits have made my time commuting worthwhile. For all my Vaughan people out there, hit me up for a commuter buddy or for some good Italian restaurants!
