Mrs. Sansbury
English 101
Exemplification essay
9 September 2013
What I did not know before I got my driver's license “The day has finally come!” I said after walking into the DMV to take my drivers test. One of the biggest milestones of being a high school teenager is getting a drivers license. After I passed my driving test and earned my license, a whole new world opened up to me. Later did I realize, my expectations of being behind the wheel and driving a car did not match up to reality.
Before I got my driver's license, I didn’t know the many dangers of distracted driving, the importance of responsibility, and the significance of being prepared for anything. Throughout my life, I always agreed to the fact that no one should drive distracted. Yet, I assumed that the more experienced the driver, the more acceptable it was for the driver to drive distracted. The more experience I gained from driving, the more I believed that my theory was untrue. I learned that experience and age does not justify distracted driving. In addition, I also assumed texting while driving was the only dangerous activity that anyone could do behind the wheel. Although texting and driving is extremely dangerous, I realized texting is not the one and only dangerous distraction anyone can do while driving. Driving and stuffing your face with food while reaching for chicken nuggets or checking out a good-looking girl crossing the street both are equally as dangerous as driving “intexticated”. Before I got my driver's license, I didn't fully understand the seriousness of being responsible. I learned responsibility the hard way. Irresponsibility and a driver's license can be a punishing combination. In the first few months of having my license, I quickly formed a bad habit that was very hard to break. Upon exiting my car, I always had the tendency to involuntarily press the lock button on my car door immediately after opening it. Whenever I got out of my car and closed the door, I often accidentally left my keys inside. The more I drove after I got my driver's license, the more I learned responsibility. Last but definitely not least, upon getting my driver's license, I learned the significance of being prepared for anything. I learned to expect the unexpected. Do I know what to do if I get a flat tire? Do I have jumper cables in case my battery dies? Do I know where my insurance is
Braswell 2 located? Do I know who to call in the midst of an emergency? These are all important questions that is critical that I know the correct answers to. Getting my driver's license helped me think ahead and know the right action to take during any situation. Besides the driving aspect, getting my driver's license helped me get into the mindset to always think about what to do in times of emergency in everyday life. Before I got my driver's license, I didn’t know the many dangers of distracted driving, the importance of responsibility, and the significance of being prepared for anything. I gained valuable knowledge and learned impactful lessons upon getting my driver's license that will benefit me for the rest of my life.
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