How Public Transportation Changed My Perspective
For the past four years, I have used public transportation as my primary mode of transport, getting back and forth from school and work using the bus. Riding the bus has been eye-opening. I have gained a deeper understanding of my community and humanity, and I have become more a part of that community.
In my day-to-day commutes, I have had many experiences that showed me slices of Las Vegas life. I have met fellow students on their way to campus. But I have also met people I do not see at UNLV. I have met mothers with small children on their way to church. I have heard grandmothers singing gospel songs. I have seen families on their way to get groceries and then helping each other with the bags. Talking with many people on the bus brings me a sense of community, the feeling that we are all here to help each other and learn from each other. We are a community of public transportation riders and we look out for each other.
For example, I once waited for the bus near midnight to get home from a late-night shift at my job. It was like any other evening until a convenience store employee sat down next to me. While we waited, she offered me a candy bar. Although it was not the best idea to take candy from a stranger, I did it anyway. We continued to talk while waiting for the bus, and she discussed the struggles of being previously homeless and raising her son by herself. Despite her circumstances, she stated that she would always try to help others. Her kindness and perseverance inspired me to help others whenever possible. This conversation also made me recognize the privileges I have had since birth, which has allowed me to be more grateful for opportunities that come my way.
The bus opened my eyes to see other people positively and gave me an outlet to make connections with those I would have never previously spoken to. It has been a place to get to know my community, which has broadened my life perspective. It has also made me more grateful and helpful, a better member of the community of which I am a part.
Maximilian Sinclair is a political science major, minoring in Chinese, currently in his third semester at the lab. Within his lab work, he has particularly enjoyed learning about climate change and how to analyze data using R, Jamovi, and exploratory factor analysis. He intends to graduate with a bachelor’s in political science in Spring 2024 and then pursue a master’s degree in Europe.