Living in the state of Connecticut means that you must have one particular mode of transportation at all times: a car.

Whether the car belongs to you, a family member (usually your parent or favorite uncle/aunt), or a friend that car has to be reliable and willing to take you anywhere. Unfortunately for the citizens of Connecticut, public transportation is slower than a snail in molasses and everything in Connecticut is spaced out, which means it will take a long walk to get to the places you want to be. It will probably take an even longer walk to get to the places you need to be.

Public transportation might have the necessary wheels, but it doesn’t keep a consistent schedule. At the end of the day, some things in life strive on consistency; for example, work and school schedules must always follow a strict timeline. That means you run by that timeline as well.

Having a mode of transportation that gets you from point A to point B is extremely important. When you can call something like that yours, it’s even better. It takes time to obtain the necessities for a car. You need a permit, and then time to hold the permit, and then you need a license and time to drive and take your test for the license, and then you need to find and purchase a car. Just when you think you’ve done it all, there’s more. Now you have to put the car through emissions tests that prove it’s safe to drive (which is really very important), and then you can finally register the car and receive your plates. When that DMV worker gives you your plates, it’s like receiving a million dollars.

When you think about all the time, money, and effort you put into finally owning a car you realize that you’ve devoted so much time toward it that it may not seem worth it. All of that and now you have to continue spending the same money and giving the same time. However, it’s different. Now that you can call a car yours, time comes back to you in spades. Money can be spent in moderation and all your effort comes forth every single day you use that vehicle. Many say having a car “gets old, really quick.” When you take care of everything in a timely manner your car won’t get old. It’ll just build character and it will last you as long as you want it to last.

Speaking from personal experience, at the age of 22 and entering my senior year of college, I am finally happy to say that I can depend on myself to get where I need to go. My 1998 Volvo V70 may be a car of the ages, but she has class and her name is Yunis. After all, when someone or something has a name it has an identity and a purpose, and her purpose is to move my life along. At the age of 22 I took a step in the right direction and finally I am in full control of my life, my schedule, and my car. Just remember she’s a car of the ages and her name is Yunis.