Moments lost in time

I no longer laugh at people with crooked teeth. Imagine it is picture day, and as the photographer raises his camera your heart slowly begins to tremble as you realize that your picture is going to be in the yearbook, someone will forever be able to go back and remember you in that very moment. As the line gets shorter you begin to question everything, asking yourself questions such as “should I smile so they can make fun of me like always.” The photographer yells “next,” and it is your turn. The tears begin to build, and your throat begins to slowly explode as the camera flashes and your picture is finally taken. No smile, no confidence, no resilience, just insecurity.

Growing up as the youngest child things were different. I always stood out from my four older brothers, and I always spoke up for myself because people did not understand what I faced behind the scenes. I remember getting braces in the 4^th grade; I was the only student in the entire school with braces. I finally started to feel more confident. Before I knew it; my teeth were completely straight, and I was a teenager. No more color changes, no more pain from my power chains, and no more bullying. August 11, 2022, I looked in the mirror with shock as “younger me” screamed in excitement. It finally happened.

At 14 years old my parents had started to teach me how to drive. For the first time in my life, I felt like every moment that I lost in time, I was gaining them back. I started by pulling the car in and out of the driveway and soon became a pro. What I did not know is that there is so much more to driving than pulling into your driveway. In 9^th grade I began my driver’s education class, the first step starts with yourself. You must be willing to drive not just for yourself but for those around you to ensure every driver’s safety. The second step is making sure you have a reliable vehicle, and that it is suitable for you. The third step which requires the most attention is road rules. People often think road rules are to hinder drivers from getting to their destination in a timely manner, which is not the case. Road rules ensure a driver’s safety by better informing you of your legal standing for any case you may find yourself in if you’re not obeying these rules. When I was younger, I seen an example of what happens when you don’t follow the road rules. My mother picked me and my brother up from summer camp and we were driving down the road and seen a car flipped over with a man under it. The man had been speeding and his actions resulted in his own death. Witnessing that experience opened my eyes to the importance of following rules not just on the road but in life. As a 17-year-old driver there are a lot of distractions in the car and the main one is our phones. Most people are fortunate enough to have a vehicle with a Bluetooth option, so they don’t have to bother with their phone, but not every driver. Some drivers even text and drive, which is the cause of a lot of accidents that could have easily been avoided if drivers just followed the rules.

The importance of driving education is to provide new drivers with the knowledge, skills, and awareness necessary to navigate the road safely. This will help them avoid accidents and minimize the risk of fatalities, particularly among young drivers who are statically more prone to crashes. To reduce driving related deaths, Individuals can practice safe driving habits such as not speeding, maintaining a safe following distance and never driving under the influence. I have had an experience when my grandmother was hit by a car at a red light due to the driver not paying attention. My grandmother had just purchased a new car that was close to being fully purchased and she also had my grandfather in the car with her. Two significant people were involved in an accident that could have been avoided if the driver had paid more attention. I have never been a person to say “what If” but life is very unpredictable so to even think of losing the people who have done so much for me behind reckless driving would hurt me dearly. My grandmother and grandfather were perfectly fine by the grace of God. But everybody is not fortunate enough to say they have made it out such a tragic situation. Which is why it is important to follow road rules and drive not just for yourself but for the people around you. As a driver I am very mindful of my surroundings and follow the road rules to prevent careless accidents and to ensure my safety. Being a young driver there is a stigma automatically placed on my back but I will not fall short of it. I firmly believe “if your teachable your reachable, and if your reachable the sky will never be the limit”