The other day during an ordinary drive to the grocery store, I was thinking about how much I enjoy driving. I recently bought a new car, and every day I find myself looking for any excuse to take it for a spin. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning. After not having a car on campus freshman year, having my car as a sophomore is a complete game-changer. For many, driving is merely a means of transportation from point A to point B. For me, driving is therapeutic, calming, and freeing. It is my escape from daily life.Â
My love of driving can be traced back to the pandemic. When quarantine began, my mental health plummeted. The lack of routine and social events made me question what society had done to deserve such a horrible global health crisis. My mom could read my sadness and confusion and sought a solution. I was 16, and my mom encouraged me to use the time to practice driving with her in hopes of getting my license as soon as quarantine was lifted. My mom and I made it a habit that after our (virtual) work/school days, we would get in the car and practice driving around my hometown for about an hour each night. I looked forward to this time every day, as it was the only time I could truly leave my house and change scenery amidst the pandemic. We often went after dinner time, watching the sunset over the river in my peaceful hometown. The streets were dead, except for the streams of people who took up walking during Covid. My mom and I would listen to our favorite songs (Fleetwood Mac of course), have meaningful conversations, and overall, attempt to find joy in a world marked by fear during one of society’s deadliest times.Â
After months of persistent (and sometimes frustrating) practicing, I got my license once the quarantine was lifted. Months of parallel parking practice had finally paid off. For me, this rite of passage was the beginning of my coming-of-age era. I was able to buy my first car with savings from my summer job. I felt like a true adult- I was proud of myself. The years to follow would be some of the best of my life. Jobs, friends, and opportunities flowed into my life abundantly.Â
I think that learning to drive during the pandemic shaped my perception of driving in a positive manner. Anytime I am stressed or overwhelmed, I hop in my car and take a drive. Through all this, I have learned to prioritize self-discovery and to cultivate the habits that make you happy. The way that you care for yourself does not have to make sense to anyone but you. My friends laugh at how aimlessly driving down the streets of my hometown can somehow always seem to cure my soul, but this is my tried and true remedy. It never fails me. When I seem to be in any way a “little off” when I am home, my parents will often toss me my keys and merely say “Go, enjoy yourself.”Â
Life doesn’t get easier with age; challenges do not disappear. Despite this, we can grow and evolve to learn about ourselves and how we can best handle negative human emotions and experiences that are an inevitable aspect of life. For some, maybe it’s watching a comfort show or getting a pedicure. For me, it’s sitting behind the steering wheel of my Subaru with the windows down.Â