Commuting to Campus

On a warm Miami morning, the hum of traffic blends with the chatter at the bus stop just outside Miami Dade College’s Kendall Campus. Cars roll steadily down Southwest 104th Street, a Metrobus hisses to a stop, and a cyclist glides through the crosswalk. For thousands of students, these small scenes form the unofficial start of their school day. While textbooks and laptop screens may define academic life, the journey to campus is where many say their college day truly begins. 

For MDC Kendall students, commuting isn’t an afterthought. It’s a ritual—one that shapes sleep schedules, budgets, energy levels and, often, their mindset before the first lecture even starts. 

For Angie, a nursing student who relies on Miami-Dade Transit’s Metrobus system, the day begins long before the sun does. 

“I’m up at six on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” she said in an interview. “If I don’t leave the house by 6:30 a.m., I’m not making it on time.” 

Map of the Kendall Campus

Her meticulously timed routine starts with a short walk to her first bus, the 6:45 a.m. pickup that feeds into a second transfer at 7:00, followed by another bus at 7:10. After nearly 40 minutes of zig-zagging through the county, she arrives on campus around 7:40 a.m., giving her just enough time to settle before class. 

While the cost—$2.25 each way—may seem small, it adds up. Angie spends about $5 per week on transit, though she notes that “every once in a while the driver just waves me in. It makes the morning feel a little easier.” 

Her trip home, however, is another story. Between mid-day bus schedules and long transfer waits, the return commute stretches to nearly two hours. 

Other students trade time for convenience. 

Natalie, a criminal justice major who drives from the Country Walk neighborhood near Zoo Miami, prefers the autonomy of a car—even if it comes with a price. She estimates she spends $35 to $40 weekly on gas, a figure consistent with regional estimates from AAA on Miami-area fuel expenditures.

Her Tuesdays are notoriously packed: she leaves home just after 8 a.m., battles a 30-minute drive to arrive by 9:40, sits through several hours of classes, then drives to her job for a 5–10:30 p.m. shift. Afterward, she heads to the gym before finally making her way home close to 1 a.m. 

“For me, the commute is just step one,” she said. “Once I park the car, that’s when the real day begins.” 

MDC Kendall is not unique in this rhythm. Nationally, more than three out of four college students commute, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (https://nces.ed.gov), which notes that community college students in particular rely heavily on daily travel to campus. For large urban institutions like Miami Dade College, commuting is part of the school’s DNA. 

The campus, located near major roadways but far from dense public transit rail lines, attracts students from across southwest Miami-Dade. This geographic spread creates a mosaic of daily travel: some arrive by Metrobus, others by Uber or Lyft, and many—especially those juggling work and family—choose to drive. 

Transportation researchers have long noted the impact of commuting on academic outcomes. A U.S. Department of Transportation research brief (https://www.transportation.gov) found that long daily travel times can affect stress levels, energy, and even class participation. For many MDC students, this isn’t a theory—it’s reality. 

Despite the challenges, students adapt. They develop strategies, shortcuts, and rituals that turn the commute into something more than a tedious routine. 

Angie listens to lectures on YouTube during transfers. Natalie plans her week around gas prices and leaves her gym bag in her trunk so she’s never tempted to skip a workout. Others listen to podcasts, scroll through class notes or catch a few quiet moments before the day’s responsibilities pile up. 

On any given morning at MDC Kendall, the story of campus life isn’t found solely in the classrooms—it plays out on the roads, sidewalks, apps and bus routes that bring students there. The commute, as inconvenient as it can be, becomes part of who they are as learners.

For Angie, it’s the quiet determination of pre-sunrise wake-ups. For Natalie, it’s the steady hum of her car as she pushes through a 16-hour day. For thousands of others, it’s the daily decision to show up—again and again—in pursuit of something bigger. 

Before the lectures, before the assignments and before the late-night study sessions, there is the journey. And for MDC Kendall students, that journey is where their day—and their story—truly begins. 

References 

Interviews 

● Angie, nursing major at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus. Interview conducted by Miranda, fall 2025. 

● Natalie, criminal justice major at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus. Interview conducted by Miranda, fall 2025. 

Sources 

● National Center for Education Statistics. College Enrollment and Commuting Patterns. https://nces.ed.gov 

● U.S. Department of Transportation. Travel Behavior and Academic Performance Brief. https://www.transportation.gov 

● AAA. Gas Price Averages and Commuter Cost Estimates. https://gasprices.aaa.com