by Joshua Greene

Created on: April 21, 2009   Last Updated: April 22, 2009

The last time that Peter Parker saw his uncle alive, he told Peter "With great power, comes great responsibility". Peter Parker became Spider-Man, took this wisdom from his uncle and used it to provide the city of New York with his web-slinging, crime-fighting capabilities. Having a car is great power for many teenagers. The ability to drive yourself and not have to use mom and dad as a taxi. The ability to give friends rides. The ability to go up and drive to the gas station or supermarket whenever you want. When I first got my license, I felt like the whole world was opening up to me. However, as having a car is great power, it comes with great responsibility.

Owning a vehicle is a crucial part of growing up and gaining independence as a teenager. It is also a very important and crucial stepping stone into adulthood. Buying a car is a teenager's responsibility. He/She is the one that has to start growing up and has to start taking this step into adulthood by taking care of the obligations set before him/her. I have seen too many cases where I went to high school and at the college I attend now where parents paid not only for their teenager's car but for insurance as well, and this leads to a lack of responsibility for the teenager and a lack of respect for both the parents and the car. I have seen multiple teenagers let their engines overheat from not checking their oil or changing it, and countless other problems among these individuals that don't understand the responsibility and respect that they should have in a motor vehicle.

Firstly, when a teenager buys their own car, not only is it teaching them responsibility, but it is also giving them a sense of self-worth as their own hard work, sweat, and effort have embodied themselves into whatever car they choose to buy. This is great for a teenager's self-esteem as they know that if they work hard they can provide for themselves (to an extent of course). When I bought my first car I saw that I finally had what I had been working for all this time.

On the contrast, a friend of mine at the same time was upset that his parents bought him a 3 year old SAAB instead of a new one. He didn't see the greatness that I saw in my car. Yes, you did read that correctly. He complained that he got a 2003 SAAB in 2006. I'll let you ponder on that. Also, teenagers who buy their own cars (at least at my high school) were less likely to do stupid stuff with their car, leading to less wrecks. This was due to the fact that those

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