Walk, Don’t Drive

A message for all current and upcoming students: walk, don’t drive.

We live in one of the most accessible cities in the United States. Across all of Los Angeles, there are numerous commute options to get to school, work, or just to try a new coffee space. But with the celebrity name, L.A., comes the celebrity rumor, L.A. traffic. With so many options to choose for transportation, much of our community still decides to drive everywhere. Although we have one of the highest rates of electric cars, the amount of gasoline-powered cars on the road is still above average. 

In this city, we are surrounded by the upper middle class and the upper class due to the city being one of the ten most expensive places to live in in the United States. But with that comes the idea stewed in kids' heads that they feel the need to compete with their peers. In elementary school, it was who had the biggest pool. In middle school, it was who had the newest phone. In high school, it was who had the most expensive car. As a boy who grew up in an upper middle class home among a high class society, it became harder to keep up with the new trends as the years progressed.

As I got older, I realized that being able to afford something doesn't mean you should buy it. Buying something just for clout isn’t a way of living, but rather a way to give us temporary happiness. Yes buying something does in fact give us a high due to the release of dopamine, but like any high, it comes down just as soon as it came up.

Choosing to walk and not drive is obviously not an easy choice. Just like any other skill, it takes motivation and consistency. With every day it becomes easier and easier. Learning to navigate the city without a car is an important process in becoming an adult. Not only does it teach us necessary survival skills, it helps save the environment. We all know it starts with the little changes.