DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Amanda At The Oriental Institute Museum

Q: If your car had a human emotion, what would it be?

A: I would definitely say aggressive because Mazda's are pretty fast cars. That's one of the things I like best about the car is how fast it can go. Since I like to drive pretty aggressively, I feel Blue and I are a match made in heaven.

Q: What makes an aggressive driver?

A: My definition of an aggressive driver is someone who drives with a sense of purpose, and isn't afraid while out on the road. A lot of people get overwhelmed by all the traffic and crazy drivers, but I feel that comes with the territory. Especially if you live in Chicago. However, a lot of people feel that aggressive driving is the same thing as crazy driving, and it's not. I don't tailgate people, yell, or curse while driving because that's just too much. But I do drive pretty fast because I've got places to go and things to do.

Q: Do you have an aggressive soundtrack that plays while you drive?

A: Well I definitely like to listen to music that makes you want to move. I just can't do the whole slow song thing while driving. Right now I have Beyoncé's "Run The World (Girls)" on repeat. The beat of the song, and the lyrics just make you want to drive fast.

Q: What else do you listen to in your car besides Beyoncé?

A: Well I've also been listening to Chris Brown's newest mix tape. I also listen to Lil' Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Drake, J. Cole, and Kanye West. They are the perfect artists to listen to because they have a lot of songs that make you feel so powerful and in charge while driving. Kanye especially has some goods songs that make you feel cocky and self-assured.

Q: Do you ever pump it up, rock out, or sing along while listening to music in your car?

A: I definitely like to sing along and dance to the music. If you know me, you would know that I'm an extravert who likes to have fun. So jamming to the music is something that I just can't help but to do. Sometimes when I have other people in the car, and I take my hands off the wheel for a second, or start acting silly, it makes them nervous. But, I can't help it. Plus, I've never gotten into an accident before, so I'm going to keep doing it.

Q: Do you have any rules for your car?

A: I want everyone who rides in my car to feel welcome and comfortable, so I try not to be too strict about what people can and can't do. But I do put my foot down about smoking. I don't like the smell of smoke because it gets trapped inside the car, and gets inside of your clothes. So that's a no-no. Also, if you eat, try not to waste anything, or eat anything too smelly. Since I've only had the car for a year, I don't want it to already get messed up.

Q: Since you live in the city, do you find parking to be a problem?

A: You know it just depends on the time of day in which you get back home. If you get home early enough, you can actually find a parking space pretty close to the building. However, later on in the day can be a problem. So you just have to keep circling the block, and praying that someone pulls out. You can't just leave your car in the middle of the street. But, I've lived in the city all my life, so I'm used to searching for parking.

Q: What do you like better public transportation or driving?

A: Public transportation. Yes, it might take longer. You have to leave out your house earlier, and you're squished against a stranger for thirty to forty-five minutes. In the end, it's less of a hassle than owning a car. Since I work and go to school downtown, finding parking is difficult. Finding free parking is nearly impossible. So while it may have only taken me fifteen minutes to get down there, it could potentially take me another thirty minutes searching for parking. When you're on the bus and train, once you're at your stop, all you have to do is get off and go.

Q: Since you mainly use public transportation to get to work and school, what do you use your car for?

A: I mainly only use my car on the weekends for personal use, like grocery shopping, meeting up with friends, joyriding. Once Saturday hits, traffic is generally better, and you can actually find some free parking. I don't mind using my car then. But as soon as Monday comes, I'm back on the bus.

Q: Since you're planning on moving to California for six months for an internship, what do you plan to do with your car?

A: I'm going to leave it here with my father. The drive to California is just too long of a drive for one person to do all by themselves. It's unfortunate though because California is a public transportation desert. Having a car there would really come in handy, but I'm just going to have to make it work.

Q: What do you think your next car will realistically be?

A: The Chevrolet Cruze is a pretty nice car.

Q: What makes you like the Cruze so much?

A: I love the Chevrolet Malibu. However, I've taken a liking to the Cruze since it looks so much like the Malibu and it's about $10,000 cheaper.

Q: What is your absolute dream car?

A: An Audi A4. It's a very smooth ride. One day a classmate of mine took me home in her Audi, and I didn't want to get out. So I wouldn't mind having one of those one day.