County students brave weather and distance

by Jolene Perron

Long commutes aren’t fazing the Essex County students who currently hold 30 per cent of St. Clair College’s current enrollment.
“I was taking hairstyling from September 2012 to January 2013,” said Layne Perry, former St. Clair student. “Most times I took my mom’s car, other times she or my neighbour would drop me off. I’ve had to work around my mom’s work schedule, and her other plans, so I did have to ask the neighbour often. We made it work though.”
St. Clair College has 8,500 students currently enrolled, 2,560 of whom travel from the county area. Since public transit doesn’t reach most of the county area, students have to find different ways to get to school. Many of the students drive themselves.
Jordan Monforton is taking advertising and marketing communications management at St. Clair College Centre for the Arts. He said he drives himself to and from school every day.
“I spend approximately $70 a week in gas,” said Monforton. “I hate that gas prices are skyrocketing, because to fill my van is costing me more and more and if it gets any higher I won’t be able to go to and from school.”
County students can drive anywhere from 27.9 km up to 55.8 km a day to get to the college. For the average student who attends school five days a week, they can expect to drive between 279 km and 558 km to and from school per week.
General Amherst High School currently holds 251 Grade 12 students who are applying for college. Wendy Monroe, General Amherst High School guidance secretary, said 87 of 176 Grade 12 college applicants chose St. Clair as their first choice when applying as of Jan. 25.
Even with these challenges, the college can expect an increase in their county enrollment rate in the coming year.