Throughout elementary school, I have always been taken too and from school by a school bus, but this year that changed. Right before I started school at Central Catholic, I received news that I would have to take a PAT bus instead of a school bus. I was not sure how to feel about this news since I always had taken a school bus. Now that I have been taking the PAT bus for 7 months, I can still say that I have mixed feelings about it. I began thinking about all of the pros and cons about each and I even asked a few of my friends for their opinions on the matter.

Sophomore Alex Kochman takes the school bus, but has also taken a PAT bus before. He says that he prefers a school bus rather than a PAT bus for multiple reasons. Alex likes the convenience that a school bus provides where it comes directly after school rather than a PAT bus where he would have to wait until it comes. Alex also likes that a school bus drops him off and picks him up right outside the school. This is easier for him and other school bus riders in stormy weather which is a frequent occurrence. Alex said that one thing he likes better about a PAT bus is the fact that it comes about every 30 minutes which would be nice on days that he has to stay after school for an activity.

Sophomore Jackson Hahn rides the PAT bus with me, but rode a school bus throughout elementary school.  Jackson says that he definitely likes taking a school bus way better than a PAT bus. Jackson’s views and opinions are slightly different than Alex’s. Jackson enjoys that the school bus is a much shorter ride and has way fewer stops than a PAT bus has. He also enjoys that the school bus is completely filled with fellow students and friends instead of unpredictable people like a PAT bus.