By Marissa Dow, FCRH '15
The best thing about interning in New York City is the plethora of
opportunities available to you. There are hundreds of companies dying to hire
eager interns to supper their teams. The worst part is those companies could be
located in any of the five boroughs this great city has to offer, or even out
of state in New Jersey or Connecticut.
Commuting, whether near or far, is never an easy feat in this city.
There are so many unforeseen loopholes and obstacles that you don’t want to get
in your way of being a professional and punctual intern. But commuting doesn’t
have to be a bad thing: it can be easy, convenient, and not mention great for
the environment. Here are the five best tips to commute like a pro no matter
what side of the island you’re getting to.
1. Always leave a substantial amount of buffer time for anything that
could go wrong - do not cut it as close
as possible. This seems obvious, but it’s the most crucial part of having a
successful commute. If you are due in the office at 9 AM, you don’t want to be
stepping off of your train at 8:55. Even if your commute is next to nothing so
many thing could delay you. There could be train delays, or your line could
shut down entirely forcing you to reroute. Sudden inclimate weather or a
painful shoe could make you just moments too late to be on your perfect
schedule. Leave time for mistakes to happen. A good rule of thumb is to let
yourself be two cycles ahead of when you should leave, so that you have plenty
of time to adjust should things go wrong.
2. Practice your path ahead of time. You may not have the time
allotted to physically take your commute before your first day but if you do it
will save you a lot of stress as you try to pinpoint east from west once you
exit the underground. Even if you can’t physically practice, virtually and
mentally think about your route using the Internet’s greatest navigational
gift: Google maps. You can jot down quick landmarks that will direct you to
your destination without confusion. It doesn’t hurt to have an alternative map
ready to go should you need a second best scenario.
3. Pack everything the night before – everything from your lunch to
your outfit. When you do this, you have time to check in the morning that you
have everything instead of hurriedly assembling everything and hoping for the
best. You start your morning feeling prepared not rushed. Not only pack ahead
of time but pack well – Aspirin, water, a sweater – the little things you may
want on your walk or ride to work that could be easy to forget when you’re
sprinting out the door will make your trip far more enjoyable.
4. Know the weather and know it well before you leave. Whether you’ll
need an umbrella, snow shoes, sunglasses, or a lighter jacket the weather is a
critical factor in the success of your commute. Without the proper gear you
could be left cold, uncomfortable, or even hurt. Don’t get caught in the rain
when you don’t have to – stash a tiny umbrella in your bag or briefcase that
can always rest there in case of emergencies.
5. Last but not least COFFEE: or your preferred energy boosting
breakfast beverage. Sometimes it’s too hard to cook a good breakfast on the go
but a coffee (or caffeinated tea, smoothie, etc.) is the perfect thing to snag
on your way out the door. You can sip in your car, bus, or train without
disturbing others and it’ll keep you awake instead of groggy as you make your
way to work. Make sure you use a recyclable beverage holder to stay
ecologically responsible!
