Essay by Dr. Angela Kenzslowe
Jan 26, 2025
The author says Tesla's Cybertruck helps her exhaustion while traveling for her job.
- I'm a psychologist who drives all over Arizona to do psychological assessments.
- The long drives exhausted me until I got a Tesla Cybertruck, which has self-driving features.
- People keep flipping me off because of Elon Musk, but they don't understand how this truck helps me.
On the days I travel, I often have a full schedule of Social Security disability psychological assessments to conduct. It's mentally exhausting work that demands focus and compassion.
I credit my Cybertruck, affectionately named Brick House, for helping me arrive for the day without feeling drained.
But the general public thinks my truck is a political statement and not something that helps me.
I first turned to Tesla because I needed a car with self-driving features
My road to driving a Cybertruck began in 2012 when I was a doctoral student commuting weekly from Phoenix to Tucson for an advanced practicum clinical training.Those drives up and down the I-10 were brutal. Sometimes, I'd have to pull over to take a quick nap to finish the drive safely, but I would still arrive home exhausted. During those drives, I often thought about my favorite childhood cartoon, "The Jetsons," and how their cars drove themselves. That was the future I dreamt of. I wanted my car to drive me.
In early 2013, I heard about Tesla and its promise of Full Self-Driving. I immediately vowed not to buy another car until I had a Tesla. In 2021, I could finally lease a Tesla Model 3 Long Range with Full Self-Driving, which I affectionately named Ma'Lady.
Over the next three years, Ma'Lady and I drove more than 35,000 miles, crisscrossing Arizona and conducting psychological examinations in rural towns. Ma'Lady became more than a car; it was a lifeline that kept me safe on Arizona's backroads and highways. Interestingly, I never experienced any backlash when driving the Model 3.
The Cybertruck then became the right vehicle for me
In 2024, a few months after my Model 3 lease ended, I knew I wanted to purchase my next car. Since the vehicle is technically for my business, it needed to be big enough for a specific tax code. The Cybertruck was the only one that fit the bill.My long-awaited Cybertruck reservation eventually came through. But I then hesitated to upgrade to a Cybertruck due to all the controversy surrounding Tesla, the Cybertruck specifically, and Elon Musk.
I already bought a different vehicle with driver assist, but it didn't compare to Tesla's Full Self-Driving. The exhaustion I felt after driving for hours in the other vehicle, seeing patients, and writing reports was extreme.
A health scare landed me in the ER and reminded me how crucial it is to minimize stress. Tesla's Full Self-Driving significantly reduces the stress of driving all over Arizona.
The author using her Cybertruck's Full Self-Driving feature.
I left the hospital, went to my credit union, picked up my check for the Cybertruck, drove directly to FedEx, and overnighted the check to Tesla. Two days later, I was picking up my Cybertruck.
Unfortunately, the Cybertruck draws a lot of attention
The reactions I get when driving the Cybertruck have been surprising. It's fun to see kids wave and snap pictures of my quirky-looking stainless steel ride. Most are not shy about it. Some ask if it's OK; others will walk up, pose, and take pictures or videos. Their innocent responses are truly heartwarming.What's heartbreaking, though, is how many adults respond. I've been flipped off, mean-mugged, and given many thumbs down. I've also experienced others aggressively merging in front of me and being shouted at in traffic.
A close friend even refused to ride in my Cybertruck, sharing his disdain for Tesla's CEO.
With the added controversies since the 2025 presidential inauguration and Musk's actions, I'm concerned that people will become more aggressive with their actions toward my Cybertruck and become physical versus just mean-mugging and flipping me off.
It's like driving a Cybertruck makes me a target for adults' opinions about Musk. To be clear, I bought the truck before he became a polarizing political figure. I cannot ignore Musk's behavior, and yet, I cannot take back the money I've already spent on buying the Cybertruck.
Tesla's Cybertruck keeps me safe
My Cybertruck isn't just a luxury or trying to look cool. Driving my Cybertruck is about functionality and safety. Arizona's two-lane highways, with fatigued drivers and narrow roads, can be dangerous.Tesla's Cybertruck technology keeps me centered, monitors for hazards, and reduces the mental toll of long drives.
I'm not financially able to sell or trade in the truck to avoid all the troubles. It's simply not feasible. When it's time for me to purchase another vehicle, I'm sure other auto manufacturers will have a version of Full Self-Driving, and I'll be able to point my dollars toward a more affirming brand.
But right now, I'm just leaning into the positives of my Cybertruck.
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