The Commute

"How was the traffic?"

That seems like a question you'd receive after you've made the journey downtheshore for vacation. Whether you're partial to the speed and convenience of the AC Expressway or the scenery and farm stands of the back way, there is a need for some mental preparation in order to endure bouts of heavy volume and the occasional gaper delay before you depart. Because we've all experienced the good and the bad, we tend to ask, "How was the traffic?", as we anticipate the exquisitely painful details.

Prep guys ask different questions when it comes to their daily commute. Since our students all know the commitment and sacrifice it takes to attend the Prep - and since they know how privileged they are to be here - they inquire about the passengers and the playlists rather than the construction cones or the traffic jams. They're curious about the conversations and the bad jokes, instead of the number of red lights caught, or how many stops signs there are in Drexel Hill. 

All roads lead to the Prep

It's easy to focus on the negatives when it comes to the Prep commute, but that approach ignores what Prep guys learn rather quickly - namely, that the road is the thing (as Kerouac said). To get the most out of their Prep experience, our guys take the good with the bad, the detours with the scenic routes, the potholes with riding shotgun. In the end, the commute is not only an avenue to a St. Joe's Prep education, but also a crucial part of it.

This blog post was written by Mr. Ed Turner '00, Director of Admission.