You’re standing at the gas pump, filling up your car with your week’s worth of gas. While you watch the numbers go up, you can’t help but think of all the time you worked at your summer job for this one tank of gas. There goes ten hours spent bagging groceries at Ukrops’, just so you can drive to school for a week.
As gas prices continue to rise and the economy becomes increasingly unstable, many MLWGS students and faculty have begun to change the way they get to and from school. In just the past year, gas prices in the Richmond area have risen over than a dollar per gallon to a citywide average of $3.69.
Although the rising gas prices affect all drivers, people in the MLWGS community may have an especially hard time dealing with the costs. Whereas public schools draw students from the immediate vicinity, students at MLWGS come from 12 different districts in the region.
“I live in Charles City, about 40 miles away,” said Jeannette Carter (’10). “I only drive about two or three times a week, only when it’s necessary. If the gas prices weren’t as high, I’d probably drive more often.”
Many people trying to save money on gas decide to ride the bus instead of driving, but those who play sports have to provide their own transportation.
“Because I play volleyball, I have no option but to drive to school so my mom doesn’t have to pick me up at 8:00 every night,” said Marley Hall (’10), a member of the girl’s varsity volleyball team. “But as soon as volleyball ends, I’ll definitely be riding the bus again every day.”
Paola Ilarraza (’09), who might have been one of the students hardest hit by the gas prices, found a way to both save money and help the environment by driving a car that uses less gas.
“I live in Prince George, which is 45 miles away, but I drive a hybrid,” Ilarraza said. “It actually only ends up being about two gallons a day.”
Kevin Xiao, co-president of SECSEE, MLWGS’ Environmental Club agreed that driving a hybrid saved money by using less gas and was also much better for the environment. He emphasized the value of carpooling, riding the school bus, or using public transportation.
“I’m no economist here, but common sense tells me that if demand falls and the [gas] supply is around the same level, then the prices will fall,” Xiao said. “On a personal level, try to cut back on individual fossil fuel use and take the public transit or carpool.”
Ms. Jennifer Todd, a science teacher, takes advantage of this opportunity by carpooling every day to and from school with Ms. Cuellar and Ms. Riles. “By not driving every day, I save between 80 and 100 dollars a month,” said Ms. Todd. “Carpooling means I don’t have to be awake and drive every morning, and it’s also a social thing.”
While people in the MLWGS community may have little control over the prices at the pump, making a few changes can directly reduce what people pay to fill up their gas tank.
“[The price of gas] pushes people to become conscience of their energy use,” said Xiao.
Deanna Gulick (’10) drives to a volleyball game.
Kevin’s SECSEE Tips for Saving Money on Gas
- “Ride the school bus. I know it’s not super cool, but those buses are going near your house to pick you up and drop you off every day. You have that option; maybe use it once in a while.
- “Adjust your driving—turn off the AC, try not to stall that much. I see junior and senior drivers try to jam their way out of the student parking lot. Stagnate so there is less time spent stalling, which basically burns and wastes gas while staying stationary.”
-”Turn off the AC.”
Kevin Xiao is co-president of SECSEE, MLWGS’
Environmental Club
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