While most of my friends were out getting their driver’s license and (getting their parents to buy them a car) at the age of 16, I was simply concentrating on graduating high school. While driving is a huge deal for many teens, I was too scared to think about the topic. In fact, I didn’t start driving until I was 22 years old. For most people, driving in a big state like Texas is a must. “How do you get around?” is the most common question I get. Well, it’s called public transportation. It’s not ideal, but it’s worked so far for me.

 

Facing The Inevitable

I was eventually forced to learn how to drive because I knew it was inevitable. Public transportation can only take me so far in this state. So after two failed written tests, I got my shiny state-certified permit. As I held the permit in my hand, a big grin on my face, I dialed the phone and waited for my sister to answer. She picked up the call and so the journey begins.

I learned how to drive from my sister. Well, let me be precise. I had three teachers: my sister, my brother and my friend. Both my brother and friend were the kind of instructors that calmly and politely told me what I did wrong and how I could fix it. Sure, they freaked out when I took a turn too fast, but they didn’t raise their voice or frantically tell me to pull over. I can’t say the same for my sister though.

 

The Importance of Choosing the Right Teacher!

I say my sister taught me how to drive because she did – I had other instructors but she was my teacher. And let me tell you, she was one scary teacher! During one of our lessons, she let me take over her 2003 Honda Pilot. So there I go with this massive SUV at my control, and I’m driving down the road when I see a yellow light. I think to myself, “Well, I’m sure I have time to make it.” So I maintain my speed. My sister begins staring at me, and then the road, then back at me, and then the road again. As we approach the light, she begins to tell me: “You’re not going to make it, you’re not going to make it, you’re not going to make it.” To which I calmly replied: “Yeah I will.”

As I approached the intersection she bluntly yelled “STOPPPPPPPP!!!” And that I did – I stopped. Her yell woke up my mom, who was sitting in the back seat, and who upon being woken from her sleep, automatically began to frail her hands in front of her face. When the light turned green, I crossed the intersection, put my signal on, and pulled over to the right. We switched seats and we went home without saying a word. When I got out of the car, my mother simply said, “Next time she gives you a lesson, please don’t invite me.”

 

Lesson Learned

So there you go. Now that I have my driver’s license, every time I see a yellow light I think, “Nope, not happening.” Overall, my sister taught me to be a better driver – she might have scared me at some points, but I am a better driver for it. Maybe I needed a bit of tough love to learn my lesson!