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Driver Education Round 1 – Almost Gone

Name: Lawrence
 
Votes: 0

Almost Gone

The started out just as a normal day. That evening my school was hosting a fair. My Mom signed up to work there and I was excited to spend time with my friends. I knew I was supposed to meet my Mom at the car at 9:00PM but I was not paying attention to the time.

My Mom tried to reach me but ultimately had to leave, as she needed to pick up my younger brother from a program, he was involved in. She had purchased my favorite food Japanese from the fair for us to share later. She left me at the fair and went to go get my brother. She stated she waivered about leaving me but needed to pick up my brother. After she arrived to pick up my brother, waived at other parents also picking up their kids, she headed back to grab me from the fair. It was night time as she merged onto the freeway. After around 7 minutes she saw a car spinning out of control in front of her. She pulled over to the slow lane and slowed down, hoping to avoid the car. Unfortunately, the car hit the embankment and headed towards my Mom and brother. My Mother looked over at my brother and realized he didn’t have his seat belt on, she instinctively placed her arm across his chest to stop him from hitting the windshield. This caused her not to be able to protect her face and head. Upon impact My Mom hit her head on the steering wheel. The car my Mom was driving was totaled. In the trunk the week before she had placed a very large truck rim. This rim came flying out of the trunk and hit the back of my brother’s seat then forced the back seat door open onto the freeway. If I had been in the car with my Mom, that is the seat that I normally sit in. That truck metal rim would have hot me in the head. My mom’s necks was broken but my brother was fine (just a concussion).

. I struggled with PTSD, and ADHD so I had to learn how to stay on task and do well in school. It is much harder for me but I continue to strive to be the best I can be. My Mom had a heart attack and wasn’t able to do anything, it fell all on my shoulders, I felt like I wasn’t going to make it and then COVID hit and I was stuck in the house having to do my work in a small space and all online. With a sick parent. We had to cook, clean and shop for ourselves and help my mom with walking and chores.

My Mom was almost taken from me. My Mom is a single parent.  We have relocated because of domestic violence.  I have witnessed a lot of abuse and have lived in shelters.  I’ve watched my Mom struggled trying to support us and provide with no help.  Many times, she would fast as there may not have been enough food to eat.  I was told that I am doomed for failure growing up in poverty, being a black male of a single Mom.  I see how others have fallen into the hands of the legal system, I don’t want that for me or my brothers.  I have had to be a “Father like Figure” to my brother, when I needed a Father myself.  I am responsible to set a good example for my brother and that means everything to me, as he is a very angry young man.  I also had anger from having an abusive Father and not understanding why men hurt those they are supposed to protect but I have had to let that go and strive to rise above my circumstances with education.  It’s hard to shoot for the stars knowing I cannot afford a good education at a HBCU that I would love.  I want to be around positive black people on the same path as me.  Be around those who look like me.  But I need help to pay for it and I knowing my Mom can’t afford it.

My Mom has taught me to be a defensive driver, I believe that is what saved her life and my brothers that day. I don’t think she could have expected that driver to be spinning out of control but slowing down and pulling over helped prevent further hurt.