My car broke down three weeks ago in Erie, Pa. I loved my 2013 Jetta Hybrid, but it had a lot of problems. The transmission leaked, it was hard to put in gas and the “check engine” light was always on. Still, I was proud of that car because I worked my butt off to pay for it. But when my Jetta and I arrived at Middlebury for the first time almost four years ago, I was flabbergasted by the cars that I was parked next to. I rattled past spiffy Audis and flashy BMWs, wondering how college students managed to pay for such pricey vehicles. Most of my friends back home bought their own cars. It seemed preposterous that parents would give their child something so luxurious — and so expensive.