I began learning to drive in May 2023. I hated it from the start.
Driving sucks! It’s complicated, it requires a degree of focus I find overwhelming and it turns out that learning a brand new skill at 30 is really difficult. For the past 17 months, I have dreaded the text from my instructor saying he was waiting outside to begin my lesson.
I took my first test in July and failed with one serious (I pulled out of a junction while a car was in front of me lol) and a handful of minors. It knocked my confidence massively, but I stuck with it because I’m stubborn and was desperate to just have this whole experience wrapped up as quickly as possible.
Today, I felt like a completely different driver. I wasn’t nervous because I already knew what it was like to fail. It was rainy up here in Newcastle and I just thought: fuck it. Worst case? I’ll take another one.
I passed with no minors. I told the examiner to fuck off when he let me know he found the drive flawless. I’m grateful he laughed at that and didn’t just rip up my certificate on the spot.
I did it! I learned a new skill! Now I just need to actually, you know, get out there and drive.