Cecil Robinson
Staff Writer
cecil.robinson@hawks.shorter.edu
Photo Credit: Robin Rombach/Pittsburg Post-Gazette
As of 2016, gas prices in Georgia continue to decrease. This allows students to cut back on the cost of daily living.
Around the country, gas prices are very low, being under $2 a gallon. With less spending on gas, drivers can now look forward to saving more money and using it for their own personal benefit.
For far too long, the oil industry has been ripping off consumers with their outrageous prices. Back in 2011, gas prices were at an all-time high of $3.50 a gallon. To think that oil companies could place such extreme prices on gas is ridiculous.
High gas prices not only affect those who live on campus, but also those who commute. Some students who live of campus see the money in their pockets disappear faster. Also, those who commute have to drive to work and eventually back home.
“Commuting an hour from home every day as well as driving a jeep would have been nearly impossible with those kinds of prices,” said freshman biology major Heather Ortiz. Due to high gas prices, students find it nearly impossible to maintain trying to pursue their education.
For a college student trying to juggle grades and financial issues, high gas prices could ultimately lead to academic failure or dropping out.
“The more stress students have on them the more it reflects on their academics,” said sophomore communication arts major Ruddi McWhir. Before gas prices began to decrease, some students found that walking or running to their destinations was more suitable than driving.
“I would run to practice instead of driving because I found that I could save more money on gas and apply it towards groceries and bills,” said senior computer information systems major Gregory Roachford. When students have a lot more money in their pockets, not only can they use it for themselves but also on family and friends.
“With any money saved over, I can use that on gifts for my family or use it for vacations with my friends,” said Roachford.
As gas prices remain lower, many can look forward to travels that were once out of their reach. According to an article by CBS News back in 2014, close to 900 million people were making holiday trips that year.
As an international student from Scotland, McWhir brings perspective to gas prices across the globe. America regulates gas by the gallon, while Scotland regulates gas by the liter. According to McWhir, Scotland gas is $7 a gallon compared to a mere $2 a gallon here.
“To think that people still look at $2 a gallon as still being too high is ridiculous,” said McWhir.
In order to assist student success, it is necessary the gas prices remain low. These low prices are needed to help support student academics as well as benefit student’s personal needs in regards to groceries, bills and vacations.
“Hopefully, in the next few years gas continues to remain low so that students as well as working citizens continue to reap the benefits,” said Roachford.
