Let me start off by saying that, I feel your pain. You’re constantly asking for rides, begging to borrow someone’s car, or walking everywhere, often with bags, backpacks, supplies, etc. in tow. Not having a car in college has its up’s and down’s. If you’re lucky enough to be in a in area with ample public transportation, you’re in luck. For those of you that can’t hop on a subway to get to the grocery store or Target or some off-campus meeting, having a car is a necessity. The bright side is that you’re never the DD and you never have to pay for gas (or expensive on-campus parking). But if you’re wheel-less like me, I’m sure you can relate to the struggles.
5. Leaving 45 minutes early for class
You have to walk to class, and if you’re off campus (as most students are beyond their freshman year) you have to go on a long, winding, physically demanding journey to campus. This may sound dramatic, but when all you want to do is stay in bed for an extra 10 minutes, you absolutely cannot because that’s 10 minutes out of your walking commute and now you’re already late for your 8:30.
4. “Can I have a ride?”
You ask for the 65529th time. Inevitably hitting up every group chat and every friend with a car that could possibly drive out of their way to drive you to chapter is no fun. It is now getting late and walking around a college campus in the dark, by yourself, with clowns on the loose, just to get to a meeting is a risk you don’t need to take. So again, you feel like the loser when you have to bum a ride from someone that now has to leave early to get you, if anyone even answers you.
3. Showing up to class looking like you ran a marathon
You’re late, you’re flustered, you’re tired, and you’re sweaty. You might as well just keep your backpack on because when you take a half hour stroll to class with a backpack full of books, you have a sweat stain the shape of your backpack. Plus, you look very out of shape when you’re the only one who looks exhausted upon arrival to class. That girl that sits next to you? Hair down, makeup done, and probably has a good parking spot on campus. You? Hair plastered to your forehead with sweat, in damp workout clothes, and out of breath.
2. “Can I borrow your car?”
You ask your friend, knowing good and well that he or she is just trying to think of an excuse to say no. It’s a bit obnoxious to leave someone else car-less, and they probably aren’t super willing to lend out their car to someone. No one wants to take the risk of someone else crashing, scraping, denting, using up the gas, etc. in their car. If you’re lucky enough to borrow someone’s car, at least put gas in it (pro tip). To my roommates– sorry for always moving your seat and mirrors.
1. You’re never on your own time
Odds are, your life revolves around when you can get rides from other people, and therefore you are on their time. You’ll probably have to be late or early for any class or meetings that someone is dropping you off at, and you’ll do a lot of waiting around for rides. Yes, it’s great to not have to walk, but never being on your own time and always being dependent on someone else’s schedule gets old, quick; especially when your a college student with 24 hours in the day and 25 hours of schoolwork and commitments.
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