24 Year Old Converts Van on a Low Budget With Help From Her Student Loan and 2 Jobs!

I am a 24 year old veterinary student who lives in North Carolina. I found this van while surfing through craiglist last september (as I often do). So I drove out to a gravel lot in rural NC where the van was parked. She was a giant, dusty old 8 person passenger van from the University of Arkansas archaeology department and I was in love! The next day I had cashed out a portion of my student loans and scholarship and was driving her home, laughing and crying with my head hanging out the window.

When I started this project I didn’t even know how to hold a hammer correctly. My friend and I were working in a parking lot with head lamps and an extension cord that we had hung out the window of his second floor apartment and dragged into the van. I had some amazing people loan me their tools, their time and their garages along the way. A lot of youtube tutorials, tears, and long days later, the van was finally coming together! The entire build took me around 4 months–for the last month I drove it home and my mom and I worked from dawn to dusk every day to finish it.

I spent every second I had outside of school and work in the van and it was the greatest reckless spur of the moment purchase I have ever made! It has truly changed my life. I have always resented the notion that I have to live a certain way just because I am a doctor–and I am fighting to change that. Now my friends and I (and my dog) travel in the van every chance we get!

Sami Syed

Published in October


Tags


You may also like

Choosing The Perfect Van For Your Van Life Adventures

Choosing The Perfect Van For Your Van Life Adventures

Free Guide Reveals How To Choose The Perfect Van For Your Van Life

  • All the factors you should consider before buying a van
  • Automated solution to finding the perfect van, quick and easy
  • The pros & cons of all the different types of vans