Driving is one of the bigger things people tend to look forward to when they grow up. It is almost like a rite of passage. Driving signifies freedom: the ability to finally be able to go wherever you want.
But in order to do that, there’s a huge process. And it takes time.
As someone who recently got their driver’s license, I can say that it is not an easy process. I got it a couple of years later than some of my friends, but at least I got it. It was a struggle because I got it when I was in college. The only time I could really practice and take the test was during my breaks. Unfortunately, those breaks were short, so it did not give me a lot of time to practice. However, I eventually did it.
Before getting my license, it was always a source of anxiety for me. There are so many times when I wished I could have gotten my permit earlier and did all the testing before college. As a late bloomer for driving, I got even more scared to get behind the wheel. Testing was even worse because in the back of my mind, I really did not want to fail. And if I fail the test, it meant I would have to wait a long time before getting back on the road because I had college now.
Now, in all honesty, I did fail once before passing the second time. The anxiety caused a lot of stress, and ultimately, I hit the middle cone trying to get out of parallel parking. Lesson learned. And remember that failure is fine. With failure comes the opportunity to learn from your mistakes, so you can improve the next time. It will be alright.
So, I get it. Driving is not as easy or as fun as people make it out to be when you first start. It is scary to be out there, watching out for yourself and others on the road. I know that it is difficult when everyone else has their license, and you do not. But that is okay. There is no rush.
I had friends tell me all the time that it was okay to take life at my own pace. You will get where you need to be eventually. If you rush yourself, you are not going to be able to do the best you can, so take your time. I have friends who still have not taken the test or maybe even gotten their permit yet. Everyone has their circumstances, and that is okay. We all work at different speeds, but it does not mean that we are failing just because we are slower.
And to the people in college who are still waiting to take the test, you can do this! I recommend practicing a few times before taking the test. After being in college, you might be a little rusty and need some time to get in the swing of things. The test may seem super intimidating, but I will tell you what my friend told me. My test took approximately 15 minutes, so here is what she said: “It is only 15 minutes. 15 minutes of the hour, the day, the week, the month, the year…”
So, breathe. It is one step at a time. And those 15 minutes will be done and over with soon.