Driving Me Crazy

By Chelsea, 17
"By Girls, For Girls" National Advisory Committee member

The morning of my 16 th birthday finally arrived—the day I was old enough to go to the DMV and obtain a learner's permit. In an ideal world, this meant that in six months time, I'd complete the requirements to take my road test, pass it, and become a teenager with a significantly higher amount of freedom. I expected that, by my 17th birthday, I'd be totally on my own with a driver's license. Sigh…it is not an ideal world.

Bittersweet Sixteen

I was so excited to start driving! Immediately after I got my permit, I began bugging my parents to let me drive everywhere. Six LONG months later, I jumped at the chance to schedule my road test. I was so confident that I'd pass with no problem—after all, I'd spent six months effortlessly cruising around town (smugly telling my parents that I knew what I was doing whenever they tried to point out a mistake).

However, when I arrived at the road test site, butterflies began to flutter. Even though I knew what I was doing, I completely froze up! The presence of an intimidating woman right next to me, carefully watching my every move, kept me from doing anything right.

Road Kill

I failed the road test that day…and the next two attempts as well. At first, I felt extremely embarrassed; after my third try and failure, I gave up on myself. I lost all motivation to drive—just months after being so eager to get behind the wheel. While I was busy failing for the third time, many of my friends had already passed their road tests. They generously offered me rides wherever I needed to go. Getting over my performance anxiety was a problem I'd have to strive hard to overcome.

In addition to nervousness, I began to feel an increased fear of rejection. Sure, many people fail their first and second tries, but their fourth? Could I handle another failed attempt?

Final Four

My 17th birthday came and was anything but the ultimate day of celebration I thought it would be. Instead of complete and utter freedom, I had gained absolutely nothing. The thought "I could have my senior license by now" really upset me.

It upset me just enough that I decided to stop caring what other people thought of me if I failed again. What else was I afraid of losing? More pride? Once I convinced myself that there was nothing to be nervous about, I finally succeeded. Words can't begin describe how ecstatic I am to finally be driving! Yes, it was embarrassing, frustrating, disappointing, and nerve-wracking, but getting my driver's license was definitely worth the hassle!