I recently took my test to get my drivers license and, even though I was confident enough I would pass, you can never be too prepared. My stomach was churning like a blender as I was waiting in the never ending line at the D.M.V. Just as I had finished a final review of my material, I was called up to the desk. My mom gave my information to the worker at the desk who then told us where to wait in line for the driving test.

I eased to car up behind to the line of other cars waiting to take the test. I watched as a lady went from car to car checking to see if the vehicle was in proper working order to drive. When the lady finally got to my car she asked me to demonstrate my hand signals and point out a few of the functions on the dashboard. I easily answered all of the questions and I was given my grading sheet. I had passed the pre-drive checklist, but the worst was yet to come. I waited forever until my turn finally came and my grader got in the car.

After a brief explanation of what would happen on the drive test, I was finally ready. We started out by pulling out of the driveway of the D.M.V. and took a left to get onto the main road, aptly named, Graves Road. For the next 15 minutes I was put through all manner of driving skills. Left turn, right turn, pull over, back up, merge, do this and that. I tried to remember everything that I had learned in drivers training and I thought I was doing well as I pulled back into the D.M.V. driveway. I parked the car and my instructor gave me her final comments and score. After jotting down a few more notes she turned to me and began to tell me what I need to improve on. She said things like, “You need to check your mirrors more”, “look earlier before merging”, and “Remember your traffic checks”. Her tone was so scathing that for a moment I was sure I would fail. When the score was tallied, I had made a total 15 mistakes. That was just enough to pass, as 16 mistakes would mean a failing grade.

I had done it and my goal for the past months had been completed, I had got my license. As a special treat, my mom took me and my sister out to the ice cream parlor. While we were there, we saw a friend from church and told him what had happened. As he congratulated me I told him how close I was to failing the test. He laughed and said “That’s alright; I technically failed my driving test, but the person grading me added my score wrong.” I now have my license and am not bound by the chain-like restrictions of my permit.