Good evening, Mileyn here!
Today, I would like to share with you my personal story about how I learned to drive.____
How many of you feel or felt fear of driving?
I never needed to know how to drive.
I grew up in a laid back, small town where most people enjoy walking to do errands and where public transport is effective and affordable for everyone.
On top of that there are a few grocery stores per block and my house is near the park, hospital and mall.
In other words, why do I need to know how to drive, right?
Ok, here is why....
In 2020, I signed up to work as an au pair in the US.
Some families required the AuPair to have good driving skills.
So before I moved, I took driving lessons in my home country.
On a summer day when I was in my lesson, the car's air conditioner wasn’t working ………I FELT ASLEEP for two seconds WHILE DRIVING.
My instructor almost had a heart attack.
He screamed very loudly! WAKE UP!!!
Yes, He interrupted my dream. / I am just teasing /
I saw myself as a really, really, really bad apprentice
and I doubted I would be able to drive one day without company.
After my instructor’s scream, I was literally shaking.
In every lesson, I used to tighten my muscles so much that my shoulders,back , hands, feet, legs, and arms used to be sore.
You know the same ache a person has the day after working out for at least two hours. Well that pain!
I used to panic when other cars were too close to mine.
I remember my hands and feet were frozen like ice while I was sweating at the time.
Well, after 8 lessons I did improve a lot,
I mean I wasn’t confidently driving but somehow I got my Colombian driver's license.
I did not have many chances to practice driving until I was placed with my host family in Virginia where I NEEDED to DRIVE THE BOYS TO SCHOOL.
I WANTED THE GROUND TO OPEN AND EAT ME.
Once while practicing driving with my host father, I almost crossed a STOP signal.
He Screamed STOOOOOP
of course. If I were him, I would Scream too.
I did not have enough words to express how bad I Was feeling.
I apologized and isolated myself for a couple of days.
I DID NOT WANT TO GO TO MY COUNTRY THAT FAST.
I had prepared and dream about living abroad
I had a huge desire to live my AMERICAN dream.
So one week later after I had cried rivers,
I started practicing on my own.
I began practicing going forth and back to the Walgreens parking lot which was four blocks away. I was dreaded
I read the DMV manual and did many online quizzes about the rules. (Of course in english which was an additional challenge for me as a new comer)
I learned the route to the school by memory.
And a month later I got a Virginia driver's license.
Later on I started driving on the freeways
I was relieved because I was finally doing all my work.
And I felt very happy to be able to go places by myself while being a responsible driver.
By telling you my story I aim to encourage you next time when you feel scared of learning something new whether is driving in a foreign country , learning and language taking on a new job a responsibilities because you don’t have the experience, please remember that even if it is difficult at first all you need is to be patient , trust in yourself and practice.
Anything you take on, I am certain you can do it.
Thank you!!!
