By ZACH PHILLIPS
Sheridan High School Student
The Sheridan Student Column is brought to readers by Sheridan High School’s 10th grade English class, taught by Abby Williams.
What is better: living in the city or living in the country? I have lived in both. One is not better than the other, but they both have their pros and cons. These things need to be assessed before a move. This way you know what you get and what you don’t get. I have experienced some of these things first hand.
First is living in the city. This is great for people who are rather social. You can easily get together with your friends for activities, since you are so close to where these activities would take place. There is also a lot of diversity. Many people of different origins settle in big cities. There is also a variety of different religious groups.
The city also favors those who enjoy the sound of the city rush. There is a lot of noise in cities, and this is a large factor. Some people enjoy it for background noise, while others despise it.
Living in the city can be dangerous. When you live in the city, you acknowledge the fact that people may harm you. If you are in a bad part of the city, your house or car could be broken into. You could get mugged in the street. There may be gangs to deal with, and you could get caught in the crossfire. You could be killed by a stray bullet from a gang territory dispute. However, there are also parts of a city where these things rarely happen. None of this is a given.
The city can be better for people who are trying to save money. You could take public transportation to most places. Since everything is closer and more compact, you could walk or bike. You can find cheap, good food options. It is easy to find a roommate to share the price of rent.
If none of the above sounds appealing, try the country. This is more for people who enjoy peace and quiet. The only things you have to worry about disturbing your peace and quiet are gunshots, animals, trucks, and farm equipment. People regularly shoot on their own property at targets for fun or practice. Animals will also get into your trash and house more often in the country. There are lots of different birds and spiders. You could have snakes and bats around.
It takes longer to get places, because restaurants and stores are further away from you. Want to go to the store? It can take 20 minutes just to get there and another 20 minutes to get back home. When you need to run errands, you need to prepare for them to take all day long. This can be a real burden and hassle.
Living in the country can cost more, but not always. Rent and home prices in the city tend to be higher. You are less likely to find a place to rent, which means you must buy a place. You are also less likely to find a roommate to share the cost. You will have to have a lawn mower so you can mow your property. Getting one and maintaining it can be costly. Your vehicles will get dirty faster from all of the dirt, so you either have to deal with the dirty car, or clean it. Whether you take it to a car wash or wash it yourself, you will have to pay.
Living in the country can be safer. While bad things happen everywhere, they are less common in the country. There are no gangs. There are fewer people willing to drive to the middle of nowhere just to rob a house. You are less likely to get mugged, since you are more than likely not walking on the country roads. While you could be hit by a stray bullet from someone shooting at a target, this is highly unlikely given the fact that most people know you legally must have a backstop in order to shoot on your own property.
In conclusion, you must evaluate what you want. If you want to save money, move to the city, but risk harm. If you want less danger, move to the country and deal with the extra time to get to places. It is up to you which one is better, but choose wisely, as you may be stuck with your choice for years to come.