Driving: Taking the plunge.

In July I finally took the plunge and looked for driving instructors in my local area. Since then I have been driving for 8 weeks now and every lesson I have, I gain more and more confidence. I turned 17 last October and I had got my provisional license a little bit before my birthday, I think it was the end of September and at first I thought 'right I can do this!' but the more I thought about it, the more I was absolutely petrified of getting behind the wheel.

 I then told myself I would start driving lessons in January but I got my maths resit results back and they weren't good, I had failed for the second time and so that put me off starting in January. I actually get my GCSE maths resit this Thursday and I am absolutely petrified, in case I have failed for the 3rd time but I am trying to be as positive as I can be. I then kept pushing it back and pushing it back and then I just thought to myself 'I don't think I'll ever do it' but I want to be a primary school teacher and I want to move out of the town I live in now, I need a car and I need to be able to drive. In order for me to explore the world - driving will help me with that.

So I took the plunge at the beginning of July, I looked at local driving instructors, chose one and the same night I was booked in for my very first lesson. It was very spontaneous and I couldn't believe that I'd booked it. I felt a bit excited but I was so anxious about it. My driving instructor is such a laugh and I feel like I've learnt so much already with him. I remember my first lesson, he drove me to this little village that I had never been to before and told me to get in the driving seat, I then had to adjust my seat, my mirrors and he showed me all the gears and told me everything I really needed to know - the car basics. Then off I went, I was gripping onto the steering wheel for dear life and I remember every time a car was approaching me or was behind me I felt all shaky and scared because I was driving a car for the very first time?! Although there's dual control in the car (Thank god!) you're also in control of the car and after my first lesson I felt absolutely fine getting into the drivers seat and I look forward to every lesson.

I've started to relax a little when I drive and try not to cling onto the steering wheel so tight. During my 8 weeks of driving, I've done a 3 point turn, roundabouts and mini roundabouts, traffic lights. gone in every gear up to fifth and reached about 40 mph. Although this doesn't sound a lot and a lot of people will be probably rolling their eyes, I feel like it's a massive achievement for me. To say I've never drove a car before and the fact I was absolutely petrified to get behind the wheel, I think I'm making steady progress. I think I'm more proud now that I can actually drive through my town and have cars behind me and not feel nervous, although most drivers are impatient and hate being on the road with learner drivers, at the end of the day, we all have to learn once upon a time.

I will continue on my driving journey learning practically and I also need to start learning my theory and book my theory. Another thing I will be absolutely petrified of doing. I hate exams and tests and so these two will definitely have me in bits. But I will remain calm and tackle those obstacles when I get to them but for now, I'm loving learning to drive and I'm so glad I took a spontaneous plunge.