Essay for DMV

The importance of driver education in reducing the number of deaths should not be taken lightly. When drivers are exposed to the laws, reality and scope of how important it is to be a safe driver, they are bound to take something away that would help them with their driving abilities. A number of steps could be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. Personally, I am from Kentucky. I believe the state has done a great job especially its new driver program. First, the written test is required to be passed. Then, a practice period of 6 months is required before a young person can take the next step towards a more advanced license, which is passing a road test with a Kentucky State Trooper as the proctor, and must be passed. Thereafter, another 6 mos. in a permit phase is required and then the new driver can apply for their unrestricted license. During this time, the new driver is also either required to attend an in-person driving course or an online class that discusses the many hazards of driving. Requiring younger drivers an extended wait period for their full license gives them more skills and exposure rather than other states that do not have these rules in place.

An experience I faced was when I was only five years old when my dad was killed while riding his bicycle by a distracted driver of a car. We were very close as I remember him getting me on the bus for school that morning and that is the last I saw him. After he died, my mom and I went through many struggles related to this unexpected and sudden change in our lives. This left my mom taking care of me by herself. As a result, we ended up having to move so she could be closer to her job. This was to accommodate my dad’s loss of income for my mom. I also had to change schools in the middle of a school year which was far from easy. We also went through and still attending family therapy to help us move forward. These are just a few examples, but enough that made us both have lasting effects.

This life experience is not something I would want for anyone, but at the same time, gave me more an appreciation for how things can suddenly be taken away from you and how we should always value the present. I still think constantly why bad things happen to good people. This experience also has me constantly questioning my faith, which I still struggle with, considering I’m currently enrolled me in a Catholic school. But, if anything, this experience has,

and still is, giving me the opportunity to value the “good” things we have in the present. It’s still not easy at times, but my mom and I have moved forward as best as we can. After he died, I had both behavior and academic problems in and out of school. Both my mom and I went and are still going to family therapy as a result. My mom and therapist, have helped me regain my focus over the years, but it was not easy. I went from having low, failing grades shortly after my dad died to being a 4.0 student currently in High School and member of the National Honor society. I am far from a success story, but I would want someone else to know that it is possible to have some “light” at the end of a dark tunnel and realize the “stigma” of loss and “grief” is not something anyone should ever be ashamed of. We lost friends, people didn’t know how to talk to us and it’s still not easy to talk about. I’ve learned that people respond differently to loss and grief. I’ve also learned, which was not easy, to express my feelings better and know that there is help out there if people look for it. They just need to take the step forward. Overall, seeing my mom raise me alone helps me really appreciate all the sacrifices she gave up so I could have a successful future. She considers education a priority; so if awarded this scholarship, I would use to help offset my mom’s expenses as she is helping pay for college. She works two jobs now in preparation for Fall 2023 which is when I would start attending as a freshman. One is her full-time job and the other is mostly on the weekends so she doesn’t have a lot of off time. I see all her hard work and know that she loves me and truly can’t thank her enough. Remembering my dad is something I do every day and I always think about the “distraction” that took him away. I take this lesson in my own life and always strive to not be distracted and always have full attention on the road. I do try to share my experience, especially with my friends who are young drivers, so then can understand the harsh and first-hand knowledge of the painful results of distracted driving. I think until you face a harsh reality like this, it is hard to comprehend. Thank you for your consideration.