BY ELIZABETH CLEARY
At a college where every student is a commuter, many see the value in making the most of their time on campus. Rather than leaving immediately after class, some students choose to stay longer, finding opportunities to be productive and more involved in campus life.
“I’ve made some friends by staying on campus more. I’ll meet people in my classes, and then we might go somewhere on campus to do homework or hang out,” said student Cameron Clarkson.
Clarkson notes that STLCC helps facilitate this community, so long as students seek it out. Places such as the library and the cafeteria are areas where students can gather to talk and study, building relationships by doing so.
Clarkson stays on campus for other reasons, too. It allows him more time to explore various clubs and to interact with student resources.
“I try to get to campus early and stay later than my classes go so that I can make the most of the campus resources. I’ve found the tutoring center really helpful, especially with math. I’ve gone to them a few times,” Clarkson said.
Another student, Anne-Marie Stuckmeyer feels similarly. She recognizes and utilizes the spaces that campus provides for student comfort.
“Sometimes I spend time in the library, sometimes I spend time outside, sometimes I spend time in the student center, so I can see different people and be in different places,” Stuckmeyer said.
She also notes that it’s not worth making the trip back home in between classes.
“I like to stay on campus, because I could be using that 15 minutes that I would be using to get home and come back to do my work. Also, the longer you’re on campus, the more people you’re going to see, the more connections you’re going to make. If you’re just going home, you’re not really experiencing college.”
Student Eva Steinert sees the diverse options on campus for students who want to hang out beyond class time.
“Personally, I feel like any place that you want to go outside of campus, you can find something similar to it on campus. Like, if you want to go to a park, there’s the quad,” Steinert said.
Whether students live close or far from campus, there is reason to stay and engage beyond the classroom.
“I would tell other students to make the most of their time on campus and use the resources Meramec has to offer. You can meet people, get help with homework, or just find comfortable spots to hang throughout the day,” Clarkson said.
