(May 24, 2013) — After years of dreaming and wishing for the perfect car, most seniors were happy to finally have their own first cars. For some, it was an absolute necessity to have their cars, but for others it was just a desire.

Christopher Keshishian knew he was getting a car in his senior year, but his parents surprised him with the model of his car. “I was absolutely shocked when I saw my first car,” Keshishian said. “I specifically told my dad not to buy the high model of my car, but he still did it to surprise me.”

He drives a black Honda Accord Coupe. According to Keshishian, he has more freedom now that he has his own car. He no longer has to wait for his parents’ car to be available for him to drive. However, he says he didn’t need his car, he simply just wanted it.

“I didn’t have to do anything to earn my car either, but I kept my grades up to keep my parents content,” Keshishian said. Although he had to wait seven months after he got his license and drive other cars to get familiar with the roads, now he can drive anywhere he needs to go to.

After all the years of being late in the mornings and having to take the Metro bus home after school, it is very convenient for Armen Dzulfayan to drive himself in his senior year. “Even though I can drive and have a car now, I don’t have a lot of freedom because of my busy schedule, and mainly use my car just for transportation to-and-out of school,” Dzulfayan said.

According to Dzulfayan, his parents wanted him to have more driving experience while he had his permit, and knowing their son, they trusted and allowed him to practice with his new car. It was with this car that Dzulfayan got most of his practice and became comfortable driving on the roads. Soon the excitement of driving became an “old hat” for him. He considers his Volkswagen Passat as the second family car, so he cannot add any personal touches to it, but hopes that in the future he will be able to for his second car.

Ninelle Zargarian was excited to be finally driving in her senior year after looking forward to the experience for so many years. “I feel more independent now and I can go out more since I have my own car,” Zargarian said. Even though her Honda Civic was a family car passed down to her, she personalized the vehicle by naming it Chuck after the “amazing” Chuck Bass. She also hung her scout neckerchief from the rearview mirror.

However, there are a few things that don’t quite work out in her favor. Because she was on her own in managing her time with driving this year, she was sometimes late to school. Also, since she is still on her provisional license, she cannot drive her friends around. But perhaps her biggest trouble is seeing her father fill up the gas tank and clean up her car, making her feel like she doesn’t do enough to care for the car. “I know I should be doing it myself, but I haven’t had the time,” Zargarian said.

But Zargarian is not the only senior lacking responsibility for her car. Many of the seniors who park in Clark’s student parking lot do not possess a school parking permit to do so. According to Clark’s Counseling Clerk, Becky Bondy, only 17 of the 69 students who own a permit are seniors. However, there are far more than 69 cars parked every day in the parking lot. “I have noticed a lot of students parking their cars without their parking permits,” Dzulfayan said.