The Best Things About High School Years

 

            I got my driver’s license!

            You know I can only control my left side, correct? No one, including my grandfather, thought I could drive except my mother. Maybe my father, but he wasn’t driving then. So, it was up to my mother to teach me to drive.

            We went to a place where houses were scarce and she gave me the car to drive. Like any new driver I was scared of messing up, or doing something wrong so it was slow going. But as I learned more about the car, I found I could do it.

            One time my mother said, “Stop!” I did and would have put us both through the windshield except for our seat belts. I looked at her and said you scared me to death! She explained her father, a truckdriver, did not believe I could stop fast if necessary. I proved him wrong!

            About two months after my sixteenth birthday, we went to get my license. When mom told the trooper I drove with my left foot, he said it was impossible. Mom said, “Take her out and try it. If she doesn’t pass, then she won’t. But give her a chance.” When we came back, he was writing out my license!

            Mom also wanted it on my license that I was restricted to a steering knob. I didn’t like that, because I went through driver’s education without a steering knob. She said it was safer with a knob. Looking back, I can see her point and yet without a knob, I cannot drive. Which means I am limited to my car.

Mom also taught Dale to drive because Dad wasn’t patient with Dale. He would drive to and from the bus stop on a very steep, rocky drive. Dale recently told me since his left leg wouldn’t bend, he had to drive with his seat back and could barely reach the steering wheel. But he did it!

We had one special mother!

Other good things about my high school days. I had a best friend. Oh, I had friends throughout school and a few I would say were my best friends. By nature, I am outgoing and making friends was easy for me. But this was senior year and we were close. I was often at this young lady’s house and she at mine. It was great to listen to records and talk about boys. I would go on to have other wonderful friends from high school, but there was something great about having one special friend.

And the boys…I was sort of infatuated with two I can recall. Of course, they always treated me like a kid sister, but at least I got some attention from them.

I had theater in high school also. I wasn’t in the play, but I tried to help out as much as I could. I think the guidance counselor didn’t know where to put me, so I had two study periods for two years. I would often grade papers for my teachers and enjoyed that.

They say that high school is about finding yourself. I think high school is all about fitting in and while I tried, I could never quite find my place. I wanted to drop out because of the bullying, but my mother wouldn’t let me. I am so glad she refused to let me quit because the next year, I would meet people who would change my life.

On to college!