Intern Spotlight: 5 Ways to Commute Like A Champion

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!