By Chelsea Dolan
Since attending Ryerson, I’ve always envied students who moved out first-year and experienced all things a dorm life has to offer. But the logical thoughts always prevailed, especially when I considered the high-cost of living downtown when campus was only a GO train ride away.
While this practical and financial reason is completely valid, I couldn’t help but feel I was missing out on the social aspect of university that’s depicted in movies and on my Instagram feed.
The parties, group outings and always being surrounded by friends was something I could never participate in due to my commute — not to mention the additional hassle of finding a way home at the end of a night.
The exchange program at Ryerson offered me an experience into that world that I had always wanted.
It goes without saying there are a million reasons why a semester abroad would be an enriching experience — the opportunity to travel, experience different cultures, meet like-minded people from all over the world and so much more. But what I didn’t expect was to learn just how much I was missing out on as a student, because of the hours I spent commuting.
When I began looking into exchange cities, Utrecht in the Netherlands was always my first choice. As a student in a busy city like Toronto, there was something so intriguing about the new experience of living in a small town. If I ever missed the hustle and bustle of big city life, Amsterdam was only a half-hour train ride away.
What I loved most was how deeply embedded cycling is to the Dutch culture. According to Statistics Netherlands, almost a quarter of the Dutch population cycle every day.
My daily hour and a half long GO train commute was quickly replaced by a 10-minute bike ride to my Dutch campus. I knew immediately this would give me the chance to experience student life, in a way that wouldn’t have happened at Ryerson.
For a lot of students, taking the TTC or GO Transit can be physically and mentally draining. School days are often spent strategizing and comparing your class schedule to train times, so you’ll be able to catch the next train home. Often, a part-time job adds to student’s exhaustion, and also becomes a time consideration. This reality can come at the expense of a social life, or willingness to join extracurriculars on campus.
While in Utrecht, I felt more obligated to make the most of my days (and nights), so I could take advantage of the energy I still had that was no longer being spent on a commute.
Instead of going home and immediately wanting to sleep, I would feel inclined to join my friends at a concert in Amsterdam, or visit Utrecht’s city centre to shop and enjoy the scenery.
Aside from the commute, part of the dorm life I always wanted was the roommate experience. I didn’t realize how fun living with strangers could be until I actually did it.
My roommates quickly became my second family, and the people I ended up spending most of my time with. Some days were spent leisurely at the park, while others were spent staying out until the late hours of the night. There were residence parties, movie nights and more to enjoy that would have been too much of an effort to join back home.
A semester abroad has its costs, and it may not be a feasible option for all students who want to temporarily move away. Leading up to my exchange, I worked countless hours at my part-time job and saved more than enough money to go. This experience has allowed me a sense of peace in my final years at Ryerson, knowing I finally had the chance to experience the lifestyle I so desperately craved during my first few years at university.
Coming back to Toronto felt like more of a culture shock, than when I first moved to Europe. There was something so fulfilling and natural about living on my own that felt right, and I have taken that newfound independence with me back into my daily life at home. The anxieties I have about moving out and someday living on my own have lessened, since I already did so on another continent.
If you’re a commuter student debating a semester abroad, I encourage you to try your best to make it happen. While others may be living their best lives downtown, with a little bit of patience you could be doing the same – perhaps from the other side of the world instead.