help katherine purchase her first car.

PS: i’ve had my lisence for about 2 weeks now, and am stuck to driving my fathers vehicle until i can purchase my own. This causes a ton of limitations, specifically not being able to hang out with my friends, not being able to drive to school, get food when i want, and much more. My goal is to raise $3,000. With my current savings, that will help me out with purchasing a vehicle, making sure it is a safe and i’m able to fix anything that needs repair, buying myself a parking permit for school, gas, and things to come in the future.  Thank you so much for reading this, and I deeply appreciate everybody who’s helping me on this journey.

Hello, my name is Katherine Gonsalves. I turnt 16 years old on April 6th. I live in small town, Northwood, New hampshire. I am currently working, but due to my job not being busy on most days- i’m unable too work the hours i need to purchase a vehicle and save up to prepare myself for life. I’m a sophomore in highschool and ever since i was a child seeing my mom, step-mom, dad, friends, and random people on the street driving i’ve always wanted nothing more than to be the one controlling the vehicle.

I recently competed my drivers ed course which caused about $950 with support from my family and working. I studied super hard every night, writing pages full of notes to pass every quiz i got. When it came to doing my driving lessons, i was beyond nervous but so excited to have my hands on the wheel for the first time. I did 10 lessons, and a total of 6 observation hours. When it was the last day of drivers ed, I sat at the desk and filled out the packet for my final. I was so scared, but i knew i could do it. After everyone in my class finished we went to the pizza place next door to celebrate, Our instructor called us back over shortly to tell us everyone passed. I was so relieved for everybody, not just myself. I got a 98, which was so much more than i was expecting honestly. As we were leaving, he handed us all our packet of graduation papers, i walked out the door that day and drove home with my dad. It was almost worthy of crying, I couldn’t believe i was one step closer to getting my license.

As my birthday creeped around the corner, I didn’t have much saved up for a car and i started to worry about it. I put in $400 for my car savings which was a large amount of money i received from family members. The day came, and i turnt 16. I couldn’t go to the Dmv that day, because i knew i wasn’t ready. I practiced for hours everyday, constantly begging my dad to let me go to Dunkin, do laps around our culdesac, to let me practice backing up into our drive way and parking every. single. day. My dad looked at me, nodded and said i was ready. I went to school the next day, only to be dismissed half way throughout the day. I was really confused, but at least i didn’t have to sit in class for another 5 hours.. I asked him what was happening, and he gave me the news that we were going to the dmv! I was so excited, when we arrived I took my written and passed with 3 wrong! I went home, smiling silly at the thought that I didn’t have to do that again. A week later we had gone back to the dmv to take my driven, now this part got me super nervous! I did parallel parking, merging, stopping, and head checking. I was nervous the whole time, but knew if i thought too much about it, it would limit my performance.

As we pulled back into the dmv, the woman who was observing me told me to meet her inside. I was so scared, shaking, and a horrible stomach turning- but all of that was mixed with pure excitement. Me and my dad waited for about 20 minutes before the same woman pulled us aside and shook my hand, congratulating me. Right then and there, this random woman shaking my hand saw me cry. My dad and she calmed me down, as me and my dad sat down in the seats, waiting for my name to get called at the booths. I was so, so happy. i couldn’t look away from the paper i had received. “Congratulations on getting your drivers license!” I couldn’t believe it, but I knew I had deserved it.