Our Choices Matter

November 11th, 2022. My life changed completely. Tropical storms were moving upwards to my town and were persistent in staying. This day was a gloomy, rainy day that would start like any other. Drive to school, go to class, go to dance practice, leave at 4:00 pm. I was freshly sixteen and had only been driving for 2 months prior too. For the most part, I was a good driver. I was always careful in following the rules of the road. At 4:00 pm, I am leaving my High School’s parking lot which was filled with other young drivers. I made a call to my mom just to let her know I was heading home. “I just saw someone get in a wreck at the four-way stop in front of my work,” my mom explained. If only she knew she would be foreshadowing my next few minutes.

I am making a left turn onto the highway the parking lot was connected to. Many parents who had picked up their students were packing this road on both lanes. I slowly make my way to the stop sign, scanning the cars, hoping to find the opening in both directions in the stormy environment. When all of a sudden, the truck behind me honks at me. I freak out. Are people made that I have not gone yet? I could have gone a few times but I was so nervous. I am not sure why there was such a multitude of people but it felt as if we were trying to leave the parking lot of the super bowl. I hold myself together to still try and find the moment to go. I look both ways and I see a gap I can take. I edge up and try to make my turn, but then, a black truck shows up in the side of my car. I was completely shocked. I was hyperventilating but I was not injured thankfully. This was my first wreck ever and of course it had to be in front of the student parking lot.

I ended up having to go to court to handle my ticket. I was even more scared to go to court than to tell my parents I got in a wreck.The judge took pity on me and allowed me to attend a defensive driving course instead of paying my ticket. I found myself at a Defensive Driving Class on a Saturday in March with other fellow teenagers. We each had to explain why we were taking the class. Each teenager went, all saying crazy decisions they made. Some were there for speeding, some were there for insane wrecks that left them in the hospital. Even though I would not say my wreck would level up to the other fellow student’s severity, their stories left a lasting impact on me. I believe things happen for a reason, and people do too. Their stories opened my eyes. Many of those students could have possibly not even made it to this class. The instructor told us something that will forever stay in my mind, “you will never regret making the right choice on the road. It is seriously life or death”. I am forever grateful for the eye opening experience I was allowed to have. Because it taught me something all new drivers should always know: driving is all about choices. We make choices everyday and becoming a safe driver is realizing every choice on the road we make will determine our future. Also, these effects we have on people is never discussed but it is present. I hit that truck which upset the man due to him having to go get it fixed. However, he told me months later, the car had engine issues and would have caught on fire if he did not bring it in any sooner. Being a safe driver means being responsible but we are human. Mistakes happen for a reason to teach us the lessons we need. Both me and the man I hit took this frightful moment to reflect on the things we learned in driving school we might forget on a day-to-day basis. Now, I check my car every weekend for any abnormalities. It is now a year later, my car is fixed but my mind still goes back to those days and those stories. I strive to be a safe driver for not just me but also for those student’s in the class.