For many years, there has been a lot of pressure placed on getting your driver's license as soon as possible, typically when you are 16. In fact, it is viewed as the social norm. Many teenagers envision themselves marching to the DMV, taking the road test, and receiving their shiny new driver's license (and hopefully a shiny new car?) the day they turn 16.
There's even an MTV show called "My Super Sweet 16," and I don't believe I've ever viewed an episode where the spoiled rich kid didn't get a new car. We often associate turning 16 with getting a driver's license, viewing it as a right of passage and the key to freedom. I, on the other hand, was not as eager to receive my driver's license. I didn't get mine until I was 19.
When I was 16, I had already gone through a driver's education class and was able to get my feet wet with a few loops around the test course and 20-minute traffic tests on the actual streets. Many of my peers were able to pass both the class and the traffic tests with a grade of a B or higher, which merited them a driver's license without having to take the actual road test at the DMV. I was not so lucky, getting marked down in the actual driving portion for making slower turns, looking over the wrong shoulder when switching lanes, and just making small mistakes out of sheer nervousness.
I was put at a disadvantage, feeling discouraged and put off, not having the ability to simply stroll into the DMV, take my picture, and walk out being able to drive. Ultimately, I decided to put off getting my license for three main reasons.
1. I was lazy.
Fortunately enough for me, I have a twin brother who wasted no time in getting his license. My parents have a busy work schedule, so up until that point, I was used to using public transportation for getting to and from school. Now that my brother was driving, he had to drive me to and from school, and basically anywhere else I wanted to go.
This meant no more waiting in the unpredictable weather conditions of Chicago for a bus that was never one time, and I didn't even have to do anything. I could just sit back in the passenger's seat, and I was totally fine with that. At that point, it didn't even matter that I didn't have a license because I could depend on my brother for rides (Nik, if you're reading this, I appreciated every second of it despite how much I actually may have told you, so thanks). I even let my permit expire twice, taking the permit test three times before actually taking the road test.
2. I was nervous.
Luckily, almost four years later, I have gained so much more confidence behind the wheel. However, when I was going through the driver's education class at 15, the thought of being behind the wheel churned my stomach.
Knowing I would have to share the road with so many others, including drivers under the influence and new and unexperienced drivers such as myself, was very unsettling. One of the biggest lessons I learned was to always be a defensive driver and ready to anticipate the moves of others; the thought of never being 100 percent in control of my safety on the road was not a pleasant one. And don't even get me started on my sentiments of driving on the highway.
I was not blessed with a good sense of direction either. At least with public transportation, I knew exactly where it was taking me. Sure, GPS is a great aid when it comes to driving, but even my sense of direction at times can not be entirely saved by one. Driving out on the busy roads without an actual idea of where to go made my nerves even worse, and made it easier to push off driving.
3. I simply didn't feel ready.
The simplest and most important reason of all. Although many might feel that 16 is a proper age to begin driving on the road, I didn't, and I came to learn that it's perfectly ok. Some people aren't even ready at the age of 20. Ultimately, I didn't feel ready yet. I had to want to drive. I felt terrible about burdening my parents, my brother, and friends after a while, and by 19, I knew it was time for me to act on it. However, I know plenty of people my age and in their 20s who don't have their license, and that is perfectly fine as well. Things like this take time, practice and effort, and not everyone is ready at the same moment.
In retrospect, I think I put way too much pressure on myself. The actual road test was a lot easier than I expected, and having the freedom to be independent on the road is a great feeling. However, I think waiting a few years was the right choice for me, and I don't regret my approach to such a monumental event in my life.
