The day started out early when my alarm sounded like a train horn. I jumped up, as nervous as can be, getting my license was important. Obtaining it, would mean that I would be able to drive myself to work. I had to be in Eau Claire by nine thirty in the morning. My mom was taking me to the D.M.V. We picked up my grandpa in Turtle Lake, so he could ride with me and give me a few last-minute pointers. On the drive to Eau Claire, my grandpa told me some things to pay attention to when driving. We arrived early, so I had more time to be nervous, as we sat there and waited.

The guy at the front desk was not very nice to us. He seemed demanding “hand over your permit!” I handed it over, and he gave us documents to fill out to take the test. We were required to write down all my information and sign the papers. We handed the documents back to the grouchy guy at the desk. He rifled through them to make sure they were completed correctly. He tossed the test paper over at me and told me to wait for the test instructor.

My test was scheduled to be at nine thirty, but I had three other kids took theirs before me. One by one as they came back, they wished me luck. Now I was really scared they all seemed to be horrified by their test. Everyone had passed, so I was even more scared now because at some point someone must fail. Finally, by ten the instructor called my name, and I felt my heart sank. It was now or never I was determind to try my hardest and hope not to fail.

She called me over to her. I could instantly tell why everyone had reacted the same. She growled for me to give her my test form. I handed it over, and then she had to go to her office for what seemed forever. She came back with a highlighter and highlighted areas for my mother to sign. Once we took care of our last-minute paperwork it was time for the test. The instructor led me down a hallway to the parking lot, where we had parked our vehicle. She said, “Get in and start it up.” I had to check to make sure the turn signals worked, the brake lights worked, the headlights, and the horn had to be checked as well. Once that was all done, she jumped in, and explained how the test worked.

The instructor ordered me to turn on the vehicle. It was a rainy day, so I turned on the headlights and the wipers. The first thing I was asked to do was to reverse out of the parking spot and exit the parking lot. I put the vehicle into reverse and looked over my shoulder and began rolling out of the parking space. After I was at the right area to crank the wheels and began driving forward, I looked both right and left, and then I drove forward. Right off the bat, I had already made a mistake I didn’t stop all the way when pulling out of the parking lot. I was ordered to take a left out of the D.M.V. The road that I pulled out onto was in the industrial part of town.

The speed limit was thirty-five, so I tried diligently not to go faster than the limit, that would be an automatic fail. I continued to drive for several blocks until the next stop light. Shortly before the stop light there was an uncontrolled railroad crossing. I later learned that I would lose points “for not looking both ways.” Next it was the stoplight. I was instructed to take a right at the light. The light was red and there wasn’t a sign saying, “No right on red.” I made a complete stop and signaled, and then I executed the turn. Once out onto the busy roadway, I was once again instructed to take a right at the next stop light. I repeated what I had done at the previous light. Once I turned, I was headed for the residential part of town.

The speed limit was twenty-five now, so it was more challenging holding my speed. I continued straight for three blocks, then I was instructed to make another right. Now it was challenging, I had never really driven on roads with uncontrolled intersections. I had overheard the instructor reviewing with the kids before me, and one big thing was to not stop at uncontrolled intersections unless a car is coming. After two blocks, I had to make my first left turn of the test.

The instructor ordered me to go two more blocks and pull off to the side of the road. I checked my blind spot and signaled to go over, and then I pulled over and stopped. I was instructed to complete a y-turn. I remembered from drivers ed. to look straight ahead, look behind me and check my blind spot. Once I was to do that then I signal and look all over again the proceed to make the turn. Once I was to a certain spot I was to stop, and the backup, the go forward back into traffic again. I resumed driving straight again.

I made it about two blocks then the instructor told me to pull over again, and so I checked my blind spot once again and pulled over. She told me that I would now back up for one hundred feet. I looked over my shoulder, put the vehicle into reverse, made sure that I was clear to back up and I proceeded to go backwards until the instructor said, “Stop.” Once I was done, I was then instructed to return to traffic and proceed on. I followed instructions until I returned to the D.M.V.
I parked in the same spot that I started the test at. The instructor lead me inside and waited for the results. My mom came over to the booth where we were going to review the test. The instructor started off by saying how I failed to make a complete stop. Then it was that I failed to look both ways at the railroad crossing. I also messed up on backing straight up. We continued to discuss all my mistakes. I was worried sick, there was no possible way that I could possibly have passed the test. After all the mistakes she added up the points, and I was one point away from failing.

We then returned to the same front desk where the grouchy guy was. We showed him that I had passed, and then he handed over the necessary paper work to get my license. We had to fill everything out and then it was time to take my picture. The picture did not turn out very nice. We then had to wait even longer to get called to a desk and to get my license handed over. Once we left the D.M.V. I was now a licensed driver on the Nations roadways, free to go anywhere.