Licensed: the adventure after the test
Junior Tori Miranda walked into the DMV in November absolutely terrified. However, by the time she left, she was an ecstatic new driver.
Little did she know, that simple test would change her lifestyle forever.
“I got my car for my 16th birthday and I never thought I’d love an object so much,” said Miranda.
Now that she was a licensed driver, she wouldn’t have to be late to events because her mom wasn’t ready to leave, or wait for a parent to get home from work in order to get a ride to a friend’s house.
“My mom got tired of driving me to and from games, ASB events, choir events, and anywhere else I needed to go. My parents also found it to be practical to give me a car if I needed to run some errands or what not,” said Miranda.
Many high schoolers eagerly anticipate the day when they will get their licenses. Being able to provide your own transportation brings a feeling of responsibility and independence that many teenagers long for.
Sophomore Michelle Tenin said that, “When I get my license I’ll be able to drive myself to practice instead of taking public transportation, which is way less convenient.”
She currently walks, takes the train, or rides the bus to get to her house, school, and her diving practice at Stanford.
However, for some, having a license can be a burden at times.
Sophomore Brock Lotti, who recently got his license, said that “Every person who doesn’t have their licenses constantly ask for rides. Also paying for gas is something I now have to take into account and begin paying for.”
Many young drivers struggle to balance their bank accounts with their urge to drive.
But money is not the only problem for licensed teenagers.
Driving anyone under the age of 21 that is not in one’s immediate family is illegal for drivers who have not been licensed for at least one year.
Despite this law, teens commonly give their friends rides, when they have not yet reached their year of driving.
Teenagers are also prone to going on their phones while behind the wheel.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the leading cause of death for American teens is traffic crashes. In addition, “when it comes to distracted driving, young people are among the most likely to text and talk behind the wheel.”
Driving can be an inconvenience at times. However, most teens still consider it far better than the alternative.
“Sometimes I don’t feel like driving, but it is so much better than having to wait for a ride or keeping your parents informed of when an event ends, is ending, or when to leave the house to get you on time,” said Miranda.
For some students, driving is more about the social aspect than the academic and extracurricular benefits.
Teens such as junior Michael Morris reap the social rewards of being able to drive.
“I am able to go more places and do more things, which is super cool. It has changed my social life because I go out more because I don’t have to ask for rides everywhere, I can just go,” said Morris.
The excitement of driving, while invigorating at first, eventually wears off for most people.
“Being able to drive is a huge milestone in my life, but eventually it will just become another everyday thing that I have to do,” said Lotti.
Getting a license is considered a rite of passage for teenagers in today’s society. However, it is important to take the responsibility of driving seriously, and not get too carried away in the excitement of the independence it brings.
Little did she know, that simple test would change her lifestyle forever.
“I got my car for my 16th birthday and I never thought I’d love an object so much,” said Miranda.
Now that she was a licensed driver, she wouldn’t have to be late to events because her mom wasn’t ready to leave, or wait for a parent to get home from work in order to get a ride to a friend’s house.
“My mom got tired of driving me to and from games, ASB events, choir events, and anywhere else I needed to go. My parents also found it to be practical to give me a car if I needed to run some errands or what not,” said Miranda.
Many high schoolers eagerly anticipate the day when they will get their licenses. Being able to provide your own transportation brings a feeling of responsibility and independence that many teenagers long for.
Sophomore Michelle Tenin said that, “When I get my license I’ll be able to drive myself to practice instead of taking public transportation, which is way less convenient.”
She currently walks, takes the train, or rides the bus to get to her house, school, and her diving practice at Stanford.
However, for some, having a license can be a burden at times.
Sophomore Brock Lotti, who recently got his license, said that “Every person who doesn’t have their licenses constantly ask for rides. Also paying for gas is something I now have to take into account and begin paying for.”
Many young drivers struggle to balance their bank accounts with their urge to drive.
But money is not the only problem for licensed teenagers.
Driving anyone under the age of 21 that is not in one’s immediate family is illegal for drivers who have not been licensed for at least one year.
Despite this law, teens commonly give their friends rides, when they have not yet reached their year of driving.
Teenagers are also prone to going on their phones while behind the wheel.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the leading cause of death for American teens is traffic crashes. In addition, “when it comes to distracted driving, young people are among the most likely to text and talk behind the wheel.”
Driving can be an inconvenience at times. However, most teens still consider it far better than the alternative.
“Sometimes I don’t feel like driving, but it is so much better than having to wait for a ride or keeping your parents informed of when an event ends, is ending, or when to leave the house to get you on time,” said Miranda.
For some students, driving is more about the social aspect than the academic and extracurricular benefits.
Teens such as junior Michael Morris reap the social rewards of being able to drive.
“I am able to go more places and do more things, which is super cool. It has changed my social life because I go out more because I don’t have to ask for rides everywhere, I can just go,” said Morris.
The excitement of driving, while invigorating at first, eventually wears off for most people.
“Being able to drive is a huge milestone in my life, but eventually it will just become another everyday thing that I have to do,” said Lotti.
Getting a license is considered a rite of passage for teenagers in today’s society. However, it is important to take the responsibility of driving seriously, and not get too carried away in the excitement of the independence it brings.