Dear Editor,

I am writing to call attention to a matter that impacts many students attending Diablo Valley College. Many students commute to our campus, which causes disconnection and could be harmful.

Students may be handling stress from other aspects of their lives; whether it be from work, family, physical health, or financial concerns. Feeling disconnected from their college should not be contributing to stress, and the feeling of isolation could negatively influence their mental health. Being depressed or anxious could affect our academic performance and overall well-being.

I urge The Inquirer to continue emphasizing this issue and finding ways we can become more connected as a college community. Some solutions could include all professors reminding students of the abundance of clubs on campus, offering financial aid and scholarships specifically for students that commute and better outreach to inform students about events on campus.

Here is an article that explains how college commuters can become depressed, as well as proposes some solutions:

https://www.honorsociety.org/articles/challenges-commuter-college-life-solutions-success

Sincerely,

Julia Sabando

Pinole, California