As a freshman and sophomore, I dreamed of having a car on campus. All of my older friends had cars, and I was so jealous. Not that anyone really needs a car on campus, but I wanted it. I was jealous that my friends had the luxury of being able to go to the grocery store at the drop of a hat, and they could go shopping at the mall that's 45 minutes away. Without a car, I had to ask for rides, feeling like a burden, and I usually only asked if it was an emergency.
Being a junior and living off campus, I finally have my car here in Oxford. I even have a parking spot at my house. Of course I'm thrilled to have my car here because I can go places whenever I want without asking someone to take me, but I didn't realize there are also some negatives that go along with having a car at school.
For starters, a huge problem with having my car on campus is that I have to share it with my younger sister. My sister is a freshman on campus, and technically we are supposed to share the car. However, the car is parked at my house, in my parking spot. So, the car really should be "mine," especially since I did not have a car freshman year, so she shouldn't either. The way I see it, I had to walk everywhere during my freshman year, so she should too. I know that's a ridiculous idea, though. Just because I walked doesn't mean she should have to. I don't really mind sharing the car with her as long as I don't need it, but of course, she usually needs it at the same time I need it.
Another negative to having a car on campus is parking. Parking anywhere besides my house is a NIGHTMARE. I literally have had nightmares about not finding parking and being late to wherever I was headed. There is never any parking anywhere, and if there is, you have to parallel park, which I cannot do. So before taking my car anywhere, I have to think about the parking situation and all it entails.
The absolute worst part about having a car on campus is when students cross the street at places other than the crosswalk. Miami has so many crosswalks, but apparently, they are not enough. People cross the street all over, and when you're driving, you have to be so careful as to not hit them. Obviously, people have the right of way, but it makes driving on campus extremely difficult when people are running across the street everywhere. We all do it, but we need to be more aware of the dangers to ourselves and other people.
I'm extremely lucky to have my car on campus, don't get me wrong. I'm lucky to have a car at all, that's for sure. I do need to acknowledge, though, that I was under the impression that having a car on campus would be all fun and games and nothing bad would come out of it. I was wrong. Having a car on campus is nice, but it is definitely not easy or necessary.
