ITHACA, NY—Navigating Ithaca can be difficult. From long bus rides to even longer walks, the city isn’t as accessible as many students desire. Luckily, you’re bound to meet at least one person who brought their car to campus–all you have to do is befriend them.
Maria Gomez ‘28 is a proud car owner, but insists her friends see her as much more than that. “They aren’t friends with me for my car, that’s crazy. I’m just, like, a fun person to be around,” says Gomez. Despite her conviction and supportive friend group, however, Gomez is mediocre to be around at best.
But Gomez is not alone: studies show that 78% of students in rural areas report their best friend also being the only person they know within a 20-mile radius who can take them to Target in under 15 minutes. Despite the data, every driver goes through a period of denial.
One of Gomez’s many good friends Julia Kelly ‘29 came to her defense, saying she “barely even noticed [Gomez’s] 2025 Toyota RAV4 SUV in Ruby Flare Pearl,” though she was initially a little surprised the vehicle only had a four cylinder engine, which impacted her first impression. Instead, she pointed to Gomez’s alleged amazing sense of humor, stylishness, and caring personality. “Her love language is acts of service,” says Kelly. These acts of service almost fully overlap with the time they spend together and frequently coincide with when Kelly needs to go grocery shopping.
