As soon as I turned 16, I promised myself that I would get my license and be on the road with my fellow peers. One year past, then two years, and before I even knew it, I was 20 years old without a license and little to no driving experiences. With a more mature mindset, I was finally ready to get my license. Being that I was 20 years old and still learning how to drive, I was extremely nervous. I’ve witnessed family members and friends pushing 100 on the highways, not completely stopping at stop signs, and disobeying traffic rules. I was nervous because I was completely aware that not everyone drives safely. In my brain, I was committed to following the rules that I learned from the driver’s education learner’s manual. Safe driving has always been something that I value. Knowing that I wanted to be a lawful driver forced me to reflect on important people in my life with driving experiences.
My very first experience behind the wheel, my mother took me to an almost vacant parking lot. She appeared nervous which increased my pre-existing anxiety. I began hysterically laughing as soon as we made eye contact, so she called it quits. My mother has always stressed how important it is to be cautious while driving. Although I am not a drinker, my mother often told me how so many people drink and drive and the dangerous affects it has on other drivers on the road. So many accidents happen under the influence, and it is very important to be completely aware of all surroundings while driving. Immediately after my mom choose to opt out of teaching me, she called Uncle Burt. Uncle Burt offered to take me driving several times, but I was always way too scared to take him up on the offer. But that same day, my Aunt Jammie and Uncle Burt took me to the same vacant parking lot. This went very well for me, until the car’s breaks decided it did not want to work. After putting the blame on myself and $700 later, I was back to being nervous about driving.
A month or so later, still feeling a little nervous and lacking confidence, I called Uncle Burt and asked him to take me out to drive again. Burt was a little more straight forward and wanted to take me immediately on the roads of our town. I did not think I was ready, but I knew with my cautious, sober, and educated mindset, I could do anything. My first trip was to target, granted it was only a 10-minute drive, but it was one of my proudest ten minutes. As I was going to target, Uncle Burt said someone was “riding me”. The term was familiar, but I never experienced it before that moment. Instead of engaging with the aggressive driver, I remained true to what I believed in, which was, being a safe driver.
It was time for me to go back to college and for safety measures, I did not get my license. A few weekends had pass, and my Aunt Jamie and Uncle Burt came to my college to take me driving. They only forgot one thing, and that was to tell me we were going to Youngstown. The type of drivers in Youngstown were either speed racers, people who made abrupt decisions, and people who just simply did not care. Knowing I never drove on a three-lane highway, I was extremely careful. I remember a truck trying to beat a red light and nearly hit me. Paying attention to lights and road signs is very significant when driving. In that moment, I saw how carelessness with road signs could have resulted in an unfortunate situation. Thankfully, I was paying close attention to what those around me were doing.
The time had come, in which I found myself pulling up to the DMV to take my test. It was a rainy day, and I was very nervous. Knowing the weather, I had to give myself a pep talk. I did not know what to think, until the words came to me. Immediately before I began, I told myself, it’s a beautiful day to safe drive. That line gave me all the strength and reminded me of the rules I needed to follow. Now I am 20 years old, and that line alone has changed me. Every time I get behind the wheel, I tell myself, it’s a beautiful day to safe drive.