Is a 15-Year-Old's 5km School Commute Too Much for Him?

Recently, a curious debate has arisen on whether a 15-year-old boy should be allowed a 5km school commute. While some find the distance too much for a teenage student to manage, others brush it off as a minor challenge. Let's explore this topic in detail.

The Importance of School Commute for Teenagers

Many older individuals, like myself, have faced longer commutes and more challenging journeys to school. I myself, at the ripe old age of 65, frequently walk 5km for exercise most days. Moreover, I know of many friends who enjoy walking or cycling even longer distances. Therefore, a 5km bus ride might seem like just another easy journey.

When I was younger, I faced even more challenging commutes. At the age of eight, I took a 20-minute bus trip and 15-minute ferry ride for a total of an hour and a half to reach my school, all in a foreign country. Similarly, in my teenage years, I cycled two miles to school and back for lunch before taking a 20-minute bus ride to continue my day at school.

A UIStoryboard of My Youth and Commute Adventures

At the tender age of 16, I embarked on a new journey by leaving my mother in Spain and moving back to England alone. I chose to sign up for Sixth Form in London, a bustling city with nearly 7 million inhabitants, while knowing that the largest town on my Spanish island had only about 20,000 people and I knew just two individuals there. Despite these circumstances, I managed to get myself to college and back every day. Additionally, I made a 20-mile commute to St Albans twice a week due to an old friendship that still existed there.

Throughout my youth, I habitually walked 5km alone or with friends from the age of 6 or 7. By the time I was about 10, a friend and I would embark on weekend walks of 9-10 miles with our dogs, pretty much every Sunday from April through October. We always felt safe doing these trips and encountered no major issues, save for a memorable incident where we broke into Stanley Kubrick's garden. But that’s a story for another day.

Why a 5km Bus Ride Shouldn't Be a Problem

A 5km bus ride typically takes around 10 minutes. So, there should be no reason why a 15-year-old feels that this journey is too much for him. However, some individuals indeed require additional support due to disabilities, learning difficulties, or anxiety. If this is the case, the boy should speak to his parents and a support worker if he has one to address his worries.

On the other hand, if the 15-year-old's resistance stems from laziness or a fear of new experiences, I would advise him to rise to the challenge. He's only three years away from adulthood, which means he has time to gradually take on more responsibilities. He will learn to be a successful adult more smoothly and painlessly when his parents give him more independence rather than pampering him until he reaches the age of majority.

At the age of 15, one should have learned to handle most tasks independently, unless there's a valid reason to need extra support. A 5km bus ride is a minor challenge, but it's a crucial rite of passage that builds confidence and prepares young adults for the responsibilities that lie ahead.