It’s not uncommon for commuter students to wonder if they’re missing out on the full college student experience. But you can immerse yourself in student life just as fully as any on-campus student if you take advantage of on-campus opportunities.
Although you can’t pop back to a residential hall for a quick rest, Elizabeth Lallana ’21 thinks being a commuter student has some advantages.
“I’m from Stockton, so I lived at home and commuted to campus all four years,” she says. “So, I had to find ways to fill the time between classes most days. I think having to choose how I spent that time actually helped me be more intentional about it, though, and take advantage of that Pacific community.”
She has a few pieces of advice for other commuter students to make the most of their time on campus.
Find your people
“The most important thing to find your community,” Elizabeth says. “Even though I went back to my house in the evening, spending all day on campus with my friends really felt like home.”
Elizabeth met a lot of friends through her classes. She invited them to study groups, which was a great way to connect with her major. Plus, it was great to have that resource when finals approached.
Outside of class, you can build your experiences by joining a club. It’s a great way to spend your time on campus and do meaningful work, too, especially if your club is focused on projects.
“I dedicated a lot of time to the clubs I was affiliated with, like the theater club. I would meet up with them and work on our shows and theatre spaces,” Elizabeth says.
Elizabeth also got an on-campus job, which was flexible with her hours as a student. Each semester, after getting her classes, she worked with her boss to work between classes during the day.
Places to hang out on campus
Outside of the people, Elizabeth also says it’s important to have places to hang out on campus. When you’re not in class on campus, it’s a good time to get work done, study or just take a break.
William Knox Holt Memorial Library
The library isn’t just for research. It’s home to Pacific’s Student Academic Support Services Hub, where you can get help with your classes, and The Cube, where you can access all kinds of tools for personal or class projects. Plus, there’s a Starbucks for all your caffeination needs.
“The library’s always been a favorite spot of mine,” Elizabeth says. “It’s a good way to camp up, nest and get your work done. Especially when you’re tackling a group project with friends. With the bean bags and lounge seating, it’s easy to be there for hours at a time to work, have fun with friends and then get back to work.”
The Don and Karen DeRosa University Center
The DeRosa University Center is a central hub on campus, where you can meet up with people or grab a bite to eat at The Marketplace. When the weather’s good, you can also find lots of seating and some games on the Center Lawn.
“I’m a big sunshine gal, so I liked to sit on the lawn or at the tables in front of the DUC,” Elizabeth says. “I loved to sit and read out there, sometimes for class and sometimes to de-stress.”
Even in the winter, when there isn’t as much sun, Elizabeth still highly recommends it.
“There’s a fireplace in there. Nesting up near it when it’s chilly is such a great experience and everyone should do it,” she says.
The Lair
Located on the second floor of the DUC, The Lair offers pub-fare grub, pool tables and TVs for entertainment. It’s also one of the go-to spots for student entertainment, such as karaoke, game nights and stand-up comedy.
Elizabeth spent a lot of time there and even managed to make friends with some familiar faces.
“There were regulars, different people at different times of day,” she says. “Eventually, I made friends with some that I saw every day. It was really nice to know people with different majors and different interests than me.”
The Lair is also open until late into the evening, so you have a place to stay after classes, too.
Center for Identity and Inclusion
The Center for Identity and Inclusion houses many of Pacific’s on-campus affinity groups. You should drop by to find your place or pick up some of its many student resources. On top of that, the CII is also a home-away-from-home for many Pacific Tigers. You can relax and get your work done here, too, and it’s a good place to make friends with familiar faces.
Baun Fitness Center
If you have an hour or so between classes, you can always fit in a quick workout at Baun Fitness Center. For fitness at your own pace, you can take advantage of its machines, free weights and other fitness equipment.
If you’re more of a team player, the gym also offers scheduled fitness classes and sports clubs. It doesn’t matter you’re a lifelong player or just curious to try something new, you can get involved. It’s more than just filling up time; it’s another chance to build your community on campus.