Bruneau 1

Shane Bruneau

Prof. Pettay

ENG 111

21 Sept. 2021

(583 words)

Summer Nights and Empty Parking Lots

Prompt: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they

believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please

share your story.

It was 10:30, the light of dusk was fading from the summer sky. The last cars were slowly

exiting the soon-to-be deserted parking lot. Their signature exhaust note, echoing through the

silent night. A cool breeze spread the familiar aroma of unburnt gasoline through the lot. As I

said my final goodbyes to friends and acquaintances I made my way to my self-built race car.

The snug bucket seats embraced me with a tight hug, the race harnesses secured me like a fighter

pilot in a jet. As I turned the key the engine rumbled to life, gasping for air. Every breath getting

stronger and stronger. Vibrations from the engine resonated through my body, putting us in sync.

My car was analog, like a vintage Rolex. Every aspect of it had a hint of me in it, from the

aggressive stance to the elegant color scheme. Years of work, development, and growth

embodied into one vehicle. As I smoothly rolled out of the parking lot the rest of my car club

followed in pursuit, into the night.

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At the age of 15 I bought my first car, I didn’t even have a license. The very next day I started

modifying that car. I had spent years researching what car to buy and what to do with it because I

have loved cars since before I could drive. Youtube was my number one teacher. In middle

school, I spent hours watching videos on how transmissions and differentials worked. The inner

workings of a car fascinated me. Youtube also taught me how to drive a stick shift. When I

finally obtained my own car I felt well prepared due to hundreds of hours of research. I spent

countless weekends tucked away in my garage under my car, only coming out when everything

was perfect. Slowly my car evolved and I grew with it. When quarantine began the roads were

empty and I had a vintage roadster. There was only one thing I could do, drive. Quickly the roads

became my paradise. The curves of the local roads ingrained in my head like the grooves of my

brain. Every night blended into one euphoric journey, each time venturing further and further.

Time would escape my focus, plus my car never had a clock. Every time I drove, the world

disappeared. No phone, social media, school, responsibilities, worries, problems. All I could do

was drive and all that existed was the present. Eventually driving by myself at night became

lonely. I started attending car meets. I quickly met many different people that had one passion in

common, cars. No matter who I met, I could talk to them for hours effortlessly. I met many of my

best friends in the car community. I wanted to help others like me so I founded and ran the EW

Car Club. I gathered high schoolers from all around my county and we met every Friday at

various venues. I still love engineering and recently I finished building a custom electric

motorcycle by myself. In college, I aspire to participate in motorsports such as Formula SAE.

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While my car transformed and evolved into what it is today, I did too. Along the way, I

learned many skills, traveled many places, and met many people. The most important skill I

learned was how to work with people and lead people through my car club. I feel grateful for

cars because they made me into the well-rounded person I am today.