Despite long commute, Third Former Chase Nelson opts for on-campus learning

The sun’s beams cast across the greenery northward of the Schuylkill River when Third Former Chase Nelson starts his day. Despite having a longer commute than most, he makes sure he is just as prepared for a day of learning than his peers on campus. To get to school on time, Nelson needs to awake early each morning.

     “I usually get up around 6:50 [or] 7:00 a.m. because my bus comes between 7:20 and 7:30 [in the morning],” Nelson said.

     While most Haverford students are driven to school in family vehicles, Nelson gets to school via his township’s school bus. 

     “It’s easier on my parents,” Nelson said.

     Many, fearing the transmission of the coronavirus, have refrained from using transportation such as buses. However, Nelson feels his bus company has taken appropriate safety precautions.

     “My bus company, especially here in my township, is very specific and very careful when it comes down to COVID, so there’s a lot of space for us to [maintain social-distancing]. There’s around six of us, but we all have so much space,” he said.

     After catching the bus, he finds his seat and begins his journey to campus.

     “Usually there’s a multitude of other kids. We pick up another Haverford family after I’m picked up, and then, it’s usually thirty-five to forty-five minutes depending on traffic,” said Nelson.

    While the commute averages around forty minutes, afternoon traffic often pushes the time to an hour or more on the trip back to his home in Trooper, Pennsylvania.

     “I leave school at 3:30 p.m. [and] get home around 4:30 p.m. because there’s a lot more traffic,” Nelson said.

I leave school at 3:30 p.m. [and] get home around 4:30 p.m. because there’s a lot more traffic.

Third Former Chase Nelson

     Some activities that Chase intended on pursuing have been postponed due to the ongoing pandemic.

     “Most of the clubs I was supposed to do haven’t started yet due to COVID,” he said.

     With a busy schedule, some challenges stem from Nelson’s trip to-and-from school, and these challenges have resulted in his ability to participate in extracurriculars.

     “Now my parents have to drive all the way down and get me. Sometimes it can be a little hard depending on what they [the conditions] are and how much traffic there is or if there’s an accident. I know they’ve definitely had problems.”