Stay calm.
Focus on the road.
Stay alert for pedestrians and cars.
Keep moving forward.
This is my second week learning how to drive. Driving has been one of the “adulting” responsibilities that I’ve been looking forward to for as long as I can remember. Riding bumper cars and moving around inside kiddie sized electric cars still lingers in my core childhood memories.
As I press on the gas to leave my neighborhood, my heartbeat fastens with adrenaline rushing through me. It feels overly dramatic for a simple task like this, but as a novice, sitting in the driver’s seat with having full control over how I maneuver the car at my own speed gives me too much control.
I make sure to look both left and right for any cars or pedestrians passing by, before I make a left turn, exiting my neighborhood. My first week behind the wheels, the thought of driving on residential roads made me feel uneasy. But now, having to drive out to the East H Street intimidated me in so many ways.
The street isn’t bustling during the weekend’s mornings, yet traffic lights, U-turns, turns and switching lanes were a big enough transition for me. As I press on the accelerator pedal, I remind myself to not worry about what the other drivers may think—as long as I’m following the speed limit and recall what I learned from my driver’s education.
The way out isn’t too difficult, however immediately switching lanes and having to U-turn adds on to the pressure. There’s so many steps and precautions to take all while staying alert, it overwhelms me: Check the side mirror. Use your turn signal to indicate that you’ll be switching lanes. Switch lanes. Make sure you’re in the center of the lane. Reset your signal to its initial position.
The second I complete this challenge, I have to confront my fear—the U-turn. As the light turns green, I slowly take my foot off the brake, and slightly press on the accelerator pedal. As I cranked the wheel to the left, uncertainty crept in—had I turned it too far? Thankfully, my dad’s reassuring words washed over me, easing my worries.
Stay focused on your lane. Unless the car in front of you brakes, just keep on moving forward.
As much as it’s important to keep on moving forward in the streets when driving, I find it important to apply this in my daily life. There will be times when I’m burnt out or there’s an obstacle ahead. I may “brake” or proceed slower. But at the end of the day, it’s still crucial to keep moving forward—even if it means the tiniest bit.
