Like most students nowadays, I used to prefer being fetched to school by my parents.
While in secondary school, I had no choice as it was too far from any public transport. However, when I started college, I was suddenly pushed into using public transport.
I avoided using the train to get to school. As a student who just got his driving licence, I wanted to be able to drive there every day and finally feel independent.
“Just try the public transport. I promise it isn’t that bad,” my Mum said.
On the first day of school, I was dropped off at the train station and I prepared myself. The train arrived and it was packed to the brim with people.
I had to squeeze myself into the train and hold on to the handlebars to prevent from falling.
“Would I enjoy standing in this cramped thing every day?” I asked myself.
I was already planning on how to convince my parents to let me drive to school.
While thinking about my ‘case’, the train stopped at stations with offices nearby, and just like that, the once-packed train became empty and bearable. I sat down and listened to music.
The first few days of using public transport were like this. I sat there listening to whatever that was in Spotify’s Daylist.
The second week was when I started to really enjoy using public transport. With so much time from my point of origin to my destination, I searched for ways to make the journey less boring. It started with opening my phone and reading the e-book I was currently interested in.
I was laser-focused in my e-book and before I knew it, I was waiting for the teacher in class. I was surprised by what I could do with the extra time I had in the morning.
Even without any devices, sitting on the train and focusing on myself helped a lot with my own personal problems.
The shaking of the train, the view of the city, and the sound of the wheels screeching, relaxed me and allowed me to finally take a deep breath. I was finally able to rearrange my thoughts, and my mental health improved in the following weeks.
Finally, the thing that tied it all together was travelling with friends. I was able to meet up with some of my friends at their station, and we would travel together.
It made the entire ride less lonely and boring. The conversations we had on the train are some of my strongest memories.
Other than that, using public transport has helped me avoid the regular problems that come with driving, such as finding parking, fuelling the car, and driving in traffic jams.
I am also able to save a lot of money. With the MY50 pass sold by RapidKL, I only need to pay RM50 for unlimited travel for 30 days. The reach of the integrated train and bus systems allows you to travel anywhere within the Klang Valley with minimal costs.
Since I started using public transport, my sense of independence has been at an all-time high as a result of not having to rely on my parents’ permission to use their car and being able to travel wherever I want, whenever I want.
So, I advise students to give public transport a chance. The benefits outweigh all the negatives. Who knows … You might end up liking it as much as I do.
To give the younger generation an avenue to express themselves, Twentytwo13 has a dedicated space called Young Voices. If you are a young writer (aged 17 and below) and would like your article published on our news website, send your contribution to editor@twentytwo13.my.
