Coming into winter break this year, I was really excited. After the stress of the first semester and my first round of finals, I was ready to go home, see my friends from high school and enjoy the freedom that comes with not having any pressing responsibilities. Unfortunately, that’s not what I got. All of my high school freedom came to me in the form of my green 1997 Ford Tempo, and since September, she’s been totally dead (RIP Jackie). Part of being a broke college student is not having the money for a new car and it’s left me feeling some struggles I haven’t felt since my sophomore year of high school.
1. Being the person that always needs a ride
I know there are a lot of people out there who never had the privilege of having their own car in high school, so they were always dependent on their licensed, car-owning friends to give them a ride, but fortunately for me, I was always the car-owning friend. I’ve completely switched sides now. I’m the person in the groupchat that always has to ask someone to pick me up when my friends and I make plans.
2. Needing rides at inconvenient times
There’s nothing like having to call every member of my family in the hour before I have to clock in to see if anyone is going to be off work in time to take me to my job. Fortunately I’ve been getting lucky, but I know one day my luck is going to run out.
3. I always forget I don't have a car
Instead of texting my mom the second I find out I’m getting off work early, I usually end up standing outside when the sudden realization hits me: I didn't drive to work.
4. I feel like I'm 15 again
I don't think I've been this dependent on others since before I got my permit and had my first job. It's like I came home from college and stepped back in time.
5. I can't go on overnight adventures
Midnight drives and overnight visits to friends that live far away aren't an option anymore. It's not my car, so I don't get to choose how long I take it for.
6. Some of my friends don't have cars either
There's nothing like making plans to hang out and realizing neither of you have a way to go anywhere until someone's mom gets home from work.
7. I can't always borrow the car
It's my mom's car and she has a life too. Doctor's appointments and errands always need a car, which means I can't be making plans when she has plans.
8. I'm spending way more time with my parents
I literally haven't seen my mom this much since middle school when she picked me and my friends up from the movies every Friday.
9. Everything requires planning
There's no more dropping everything and meeting my friends at Denny's at 11 p.m. Plans need to be made early in the day so they can get my mom's approval.
10. I can't go anywhere alone
The only way I get the car is if I'm going to pick up a friend. I can't even buy a new bottle of shampoo without bringing an accomplice.
11. I'm starting to forget how to drive
I can't even begin to tell you how tempted I've been to treat red lights like stop signs, and that's not how red lights work.
