Help Michelle get a reliable car!

Hello! My name is Michelle and I am currently 20, 21 in July. You are probably wondering why I just don't mooch off my family for a car or get one as a grad present back in 2011 from HS. Well, I was raised by two loving people (both whom are passed away now) that took me in and raised me but weren't made of the money that could help me get a car, I couldn't even get my license till I was already 18 and capable of driving with someone outside from my dad.

When I say took me in and raised me.. I was essentially adopted within my own family but I have not known my real mother at all. The family I am connected with cannot help me with this seeing as everyone is suffering a loss of income of some sort. I am a university student in Missouri currently trying to graduate with a Bachelors in Science and Nursing, I have a full-time minimum wage job on the side, and also acquired certification to be a CNA in a hospital which I am working on getting a job as to have better income stability.

When I do get accepted into the universitys nursing program, I will be required to start taking clinicals in the hospital, and make it to lectures back on campus. I live off campus (a 10 minute walk from the actual campus) and pay my own rent and whatnot, so I know what it means to have a budget. But I'm afraid that I cannot afford a car that in the long run, wouldn't cost me more to fix than it is really worth and I like to think ahead. I'd like my car to last me years, like.. I'm planning on it still being my car when I start a family. So reliable is my key.

I have owned a car before, I had a 2006 Dodge Stratus that I cosigned with my family and they paid my car payments and I paid my insurance. But when I moved out, they removed themselves and took the car away and took it back to the dealership and left me carless and to depend on my friends. I have realized I don't have the credit to do this alone.. But I need a car to make it to and from my clinicals in a year or so. My min. for this is 10,000 simply because I want a good car. I was looking more towards the Honda Civics (They have great mileage, are safe/dependable, and very family orientated and long-lasting) And hoping it'll find me a decent car and still have money left over for the license and registration fees.

So if you can help, I cannot express how thankful I would be, and how grateful I am that you contributed, even if it was $5. Something is better than nothing!