![Wayland Historical Society Executive Director Scarlett Hoey explains the history of the Cochituate Gatehouse.
"The exterior is still a nice monument to remember buildings [involved in] water history," Hoey said. "We all drink lots of water, and it's such an important resource that we kind of take for granted nowadays."](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_2024-1200x800.jpg)
As a result of the recent military conflict in Iran, gas and oil prices have surged in the U.S. and around the world. As global oil shortages worsen, countries are struggling to preserve remaining reserves while Iran continues blocking oil shipments.
The closing of the Strait of Hormuz, a transportation waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that carries 20% of the world’s oil, disrupted oil transport and caused gas prices to spike nationwide.
“[The increase in gas prices is] 100% connected to what’s happening in the world,” History Department Head David Schmirer said. “The closing of the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the war in Iran seems to be a correlation or causation [of the shortage]. Even though we’re not purchasing Iranian oil, the supply has been crunched by the closing of the Strait [of Hormuz], and prices are going up everywhere.”
Gas prices increased about 30% in the last month, with the national average rising about $1 per gallon. On March 2, the national average price of gas was $3.01 per gallon. By March 31, it had climbed to $4.02 per gallon.
“Pre-gas inflation prices, it was about $40 to fill up my tank fully,” Wayland High School senior Tristian Norgaard said. “But now with the gas prices, it takes like $30 to fill up a little more than half.”
The effects of this spike spread across the U.S., with drivers feeling the impact of higher gas prices.
“As someone who drives a decent amount, [the spike in gas prices are] kind of a big deal,” history teacher Timothy Glavin said.
For high school students who drive, rising gas prices have caused frustration and anxiety over whether they can afford transportation to jobs, school and other activities.
“It’s kind of upsetting, because I already have to make that money allotted to gas, and then now I have to pay even more,” Norgaard said. “So it’s just kind of frustrating, but I know I can’t get out of that. I need gas because I need to be able to get to my job.”
Spending more on gas leaves less money for other expenses, such as food, and adds to concerns about managing money.
“I have a job at the mall so I have to go back and forth from my house to there, and I have a younger brother that I drive around,” junior Callie Zedower said. “With the gas prices going up I’m spending a lot more money, which is not good. I can’t go out to lunch as much, which sucks because I like getting food.”
Conversation about rising gas prices has spread around WHS, where even teachers have noticed students complaining about the sudden spike.
“In the context of looking at the war with Iran in a history class, one of the things that will often come up is the notable rise in gas prices among students,” Schmirer said.
