Five things you’ll know if you commute to Bournemouth Uni

The shift from Summer to Autumn can be daunting for all university students—the day-to-day life of lounging around merges into a stressful schedule of classes and studying. The warm, bright evenings turn colder, and you are left wondering why it is dark when you leave the lecture theatre. However, all of this seems minuscule when the unsettling reality that you have to commute home sets it.

The early morning class

Nothing is better than lying in bed, all warm and cosy. The birds have started to awaken, chirping softly. But the sweet bliss is soon interrupted by the beeping of the 6am alarm. I lay staring at the ceiling, debating the importance of this class. As I begrudgingly force myself out the door as the sun has only begun to rise, I question if the money I’m saving through commuting is worth it.

The fear that you have left something at home

Imagine sitting in the library ready to study: laptop out, book open. Only to realise that your AirPod case is lying on your bed miles away.

Unable to pop back home, you are forced to endure the day with the forgotten precious item. To prevent this, I always overpack, forcing me to walk around campus with an overflowing bag that is possibly injuring my shoulder. At least it’s better than the alternative of forgetting something again.

The caffeine fix

It is no lie when people say students are running on caffeine most of the time, especially those who commute. It is also no coincidence that the closest building to the buses is the Atrium Café. The first sip of caffeine seems to take away the pain and wipe away the memories of the long commute.

The panicked walk to ensure you will catch the bus in time

As soon as the lecturer flicks through the last slide, my mind turns to mission-impossible mode to ensure I get on my bus within the ten-minute window. Then, it is the fast-paced walk followed by accidental bumps and tight smiles until you finally manage to grab a seat on the overfilled bus. Sure, the next bus comes in half an hour, but who wants to stay longer than they have to?

The constant tiredness from sitting on buses

Before I started university, the idea of sitting on a bus for an hour could cause extreme tiredness seemed crazy. However, after a day of classes, sitting on the bus is when the fatigue hits me. Now, I am embarrassed to say at the age of 21, I am ready for bed as soon as my foot goes through the front door.

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