Over the past few years, Americans across the country have watched gas prices rise and fall unpredictably. For many families, teachers, and students, the cost of filling up a gas tank has become more than just an inconvenience; it has become a financial burden that affects daily life. In communities like Oxnard, where many students and staff commute long distances to school and work, such as junior Juan Morales, who commutes from Santa Paula, and Mrs. Molly Fitch, who commutes from Ojai, rising gas prices are especially noticeable.

Many juniors and seniors who drive from neighboring cities such as Ventura, Camarillo, or Santa Paula to reach campus each day are now spending more money on gas, forcing them to adjust their (already tight) budgets, reduce unnecessary travel, or consider alternative transportation methods. Some students have begun carpooling and/or biking, just to reduce the amount of money they have to spend, such as two juniors, who prefer to remain anonymous, who went from driving individually to riding to school together and splitting the gas bill two ways. “At first we drove separately every day, but gas prices got so expensive that carpooling just made more sense,” said one junior. “Now we split the cost, save money, and honestly, it’s helped make mornings less stressful.”

Seniors who plan to commute all the way to college are now feeling more afraid of what this could mean financially for them in the future. Jericho Velasco, who plans to attend Cal State Long Beach in the fall and has committed to making the 1-hour 30-minute drive to and from Long Beach, is one of the most notable. “I’m excited for college, but the cost of commuting is definitely something I worry about,” said Jericho Velasco. “Driving three hours total every day adds up fast with gas prices this high, so it’s made me think a lot more about budgeting and how expensive college life can really be. I have a job right now, but with having to buy textbooks and paying tuition, I’m a bit worried I’ll be stretched too thin,” he said.

Students’ families are also affected. Parents who drive students to school every morning may spend significantly more money on gas each month than they did just a few years ago, like senior Ashley Medina’s own mother, who has had to alter her family budget in order to meet the pricey demand. “They have personally affected my family’s budget by not having enough to do fun activities like going to a theme park, water park, or something similar to that, especially because we drive a lot and are always out, and every week we have to put $95 worth of gas,” says Medina. However, Medina isn’t the only one who reports their family having to reorganize their priorities. Juniors Juan and Estrella Morales’ mom has to drive them from Santa Paula and back every day. “Since my mom has to drive us from Santa Paula every day, gas prices have definitely made things harder for my family,” said Estrella Morales. “We’ve had to cut back on things like eating out, going shopping, and taking weekend trips because so much money now goes toward gas.” Beyond finances, rising gas prices can also increase stress for families already dealing with expensive groceries, rent, and utility bills. In schools, this can affect attendance, participation in activities, and overall community morale.

However, some people see rising gas prices as a motivation to explore alternative transportation. Electric vehicles, biking, walking, and public transportation are becoming more common discussions as communities think about the future of transportation and energy use. A member of this movement is Ms. Laura Taylor, who chooses to bike at least once a week to school and drives an electric car. She is one of the lucky few whose lives and daily expenses have remained unaffected by prices because she is not one of its consumers. She believes numerous more people should follow a similar lifestyle to hers. Americans rely very, very heavily on cars. If we had better public transportation or people got on their bikes more often, it would be better for not only the environment, but also wallets,” Ms. Taylor said.
As gas prices continue to fluctuate, communities across America are adapting in different ways. For example, at a very popular gas station in Oxnard, Costco, we have watched prices go from $1.80, ten years ago, to around Six dollars now. For schools, this issue is more than just an economic topic seen on the news; it directly affects the people who walk through campus every day. Teachers, students, and families all experience the consequences differently, but together they continue finding ways to adjust to the changing costs of transportation.