Crazy Commutes

Mass Academy welcomes students from all across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts leading some attendees to travel for over an hour to get to school every day. According to a survey sent out to Mass Academy students, over half of the grade has a commute longer than 30 minutes, with more than 10% driving over an hour each day. For some students, despite living relatively close to the school, carpooling adds to their commute length.

A few students and their families are even willing to move across the state if it means they can attend Mass Academy.

“My family and I moved closer to Mass Academy over the summer, shortening my commute from 90 minutes to 15 minutes. I could not drive yet, so a daily commute would have been infeasible,” said junior Venkatraman Varatharajan. “I am glad that I have the opportunity to come to MAMS." 

Other students share similar opinions, echoing the sentiment that the experiences available at Mass Academy are worth a longer drive.

“I commute an hour to Mass Academy every day by myself. Even though a lot of people think I’m crazy for driving all the way to Worcester, I wouldn’t change a thing,” said junior Riley Harn. “Mass Academy has given me so many opportunities to expand my horizons, so the sacrifice has been worth it. I won’t lie and say it’s easy, but coming to Mass Academy and learning so much everyday definitely makes the time spent driving easier.”

Some students find the long drive to be a positive experience, as it gives them time to relax and reflect on their day. 

“While my commute is long, I find it to be a time to decompress. It also teaches me how to manage my time well,” said Shivani Parmar, a junior who lives over an hour away from Mass Academy. 

At the end of the day, all Mass Academy students benefit from being surrounded by a community coming from all across the state, culminating in a variety of opinions, skills and knowledge.