As the school semester comes to a close and my Writing for Interactive Media class is on its last few days, today is the day I’m deciding to stop this publication about college commuters. 😦
I know… I know…
I will say it has had a good run, from explanations on why I commute to the little appreciation posts; and you can’t forget about the little parking lot rants.
I’m sure there could be plenty more I could write on the subject as I’m still continuing my education in the fall. Plus, there are always new things happening about college education, college life, and college commuters specifically that could be talked about. However, I think it’s time to step out of the driver’s seat for awhile; a break is certainly overdue considering the fact that this blog was created during the Covid-19 pandemic. I’m exhausted! Anyone else? But who knows, maybe I’ll rise from the dead again and come back if I have any new information or experiences I want to share with you. But for now I think all of us college kids need a nap. zzz
Besides, I think what I have written about has really helped grow this little community of ours and show that we are not invisible.
At the beginning of this, I felt that college commuters were not understood; that they always got the short end of the stick, and were never appreciated; sadly, at times they still are. You tend to feel alone, I did, but I think after having this platform to show how I felt, who a commuter is, what we have issues with (I’m talking about you parking), and what we appreciate (remember those cute, little study buddies), readers (not just college commuters) are able to see a bit of what our community is and hopefully appreciate and understand it more, or maybe even help us.
Maybe a person who never wanted to hang out with that person because they were a commuter will change their mind. Or maybe after reading this publication, a commuter was able to feel less alone and found a bigger community of people just like them who are going through similar struggles and issues and are also learning to get through it.
This is a family and even if I don’t continue to post I want you to keep supporting each other. Share your stories and continue to change the narrative about college commuters; let our voices be known. As author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said, “Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign, but stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people, but stories can also repair that broken dignity.” The more stories we share, the more of who we are will truly shine and hopefully the assumptions about us will be a thing of the past.
I think this publication did just that. I told you my stories. I told you my struggles, my questions, my concerns. I told you what I loved and valued and what I hoped for for mine as well as all of our futures. More Parking Please!! I hope from what I’ve written you can get a glimpse into who I am and my life and maybe you have learned something from it. I hope this publication has broken the single story even if it’s just a start; what do you think?
I know there is so much more that can be said, but don’t worry if it’s not from me, because if you found me then I’m sure you can find many more people writing about their stories. Whether they be about their college experience in general or like me focusing on a particular aspect, I’m sure they can help you, guide you, and continue to give you that community feel of reassurance that you deserve.
If you do decide to move on and read someone else, I recommend Emily the author of My Life In College. I found it interesting, raw, and real. Her story is definitely a different take on college than what I wrote; it’s more like a daily diary, but that’s why I recommend it. By getting more stories out into the world, you need to also show different takes and hers just so happens to be a day by day story. You may find commonalities between us and yourself (especially if it pertains to college life), but you may also learn something new, and that’s all that I want for you; to grow, to learn, and to come together with others.
So please if you want to continue this journey and add to your repertoire of stories consider My Life In College. But don’t forget about me lol!
Well before I sign off, I hope you have enjoyed my posts as much as I have written them. I never thought I would’ve liked blogging as much as I did. I will say, it does take a lot of time, patience, and effort. But I think if you’re passionate enough, the words will spew out like a waterfall and people will drink it right up because it’s the real you who is speaking. That was probably the weirdest sentence I’ve ever written lol. Oh well, you get the point. 🙂
Until next time, keep supporting one another, keep working hard, keep sharing stories, and stay strong because you got this. #CollegeCommuters4Life 🙂
~Kaytlyn
Committing to the Commute 