Students recall first driving experiences

For sophomore Becky Hoag, her first time driving without a driver’s education teacher last year was memorable.  

“I was picking up some homework from a friend so my mom figured since it was close, it would be a good beginning drive,” Hoag said.  

Yet as she was driving out of the parking lot, Hoag turned the wheel too far.

“When I tried to straighten myself out, I put on the gas instead of the brake and crashed going like three miles per hour into the [fire] hydrant.”

Thinking about the incident later she said: “I was mortified [because] my friend saw, but I was amazed later at school how many others have had their shares of incidents too.”

Upperclassmen also have their own driving stories.  For senior Nikki Bedekar, her first experiences with driving happened just recently, when she went to the West Valley parking lot to practice driving for the first time with her mom.

“I was really worried that driving was going to be really hard, but it was actually OK,” Bedekar said. “It got easier to make turns as I practiced it more.”

Still, Bedekar said she was not completely confident at first.

“I think the scariest part was making turns for the first time [because] I was really worried that I wasn't going to turn properly and drive into the curb instead,” Bedekar said. “The first time I drove, I was gripping the steering wheel so hard when I was making turns that my arm was actually a bit sore the next morning.”

Bedekar said she would change one thing about the process of obtaining her license, if she could do it again.

“I would definitely get my permit when I was supposed to get it so that I wouldn't be learning how to drive for the first time as a 17 year old,” Bedekar said.

Similarly, junior Mohith Subbarao said he found driving to be enjoyable the first time he tried it after getting his permit last October.

“I have never been as excited as my friends have to drive, but when I had my first lesson it was pretty fun to get behind the wheel,” Subbarao said.

According to Subbarao, his first lesson was eventful.

“The instructor was very calm and good at giving instructions,” Subbarao said. “I remember driving on the freeway in the first five minutes, which was really exciting.”

Subbarao felt that there were both benefits and drawbacks to the new experience.

“My favorite part was just actually being able to drive and being in control of the car,” Subbarao said. “The worst part was worrying about hitting something.”

Junior Sachi Verma got her permit last May, but still does not have her license.