We occasionally survey our students and ask were is the first place you will go once you earn your driver’s license. The last 6 people that we’ve asked, have surprisingly given us all unique answers. The diversity in our student’s responses is heartwarming. Here’s what we’ve heard:
As an ice breaker, we have surveyed our students by asking where is the first place that they will venture off to once they earn their driver’s license after passing the DMV driving test.
The last 6 people that we’ve asked, have surprisingly given us all unique answers. The diversity in our student’s responses is heartwarming. Here’s what we’ve heard:
“I’ve been taking Uber and Cal Train for 6 months to work. It costs $45 each day and 2 hours of commuting. I can’t wait to just drive myself.”
-28 y/o female, Dublin
Cost & Time. We can’t possibly imagine what it would feel like to have to cushion each day by 4 hours to work 8 hours a day. We can’t even imagine what one’s morning routine would feel like and how exhausted it will be to return home late at night where half one’s time was spent commuting.
A quick math estimate for our new friend would be 2040 work hours in a year which equates to 225 work days. Where 225 days * $45/days would amount to $10,125 a year. I’m sure you can factor in other problem areas such as cold weather, safety concerns at night, and the occasional Cal Train delays that seem to occur every other day.
To compound matters, our student had previously attended another driving school and for a two hour lesson, she was only allowed to drive for 10 minutes where the other hour and 50 minutes was spent talking. Unfortunately, she had failed the test twice with the other school and that reinforces our thoughts that you get what you pay for and not all schools and instructors are even at the same level. We are proud to say that we thoroughly worked with our new client and she proudly aced her test. Now, she is driving to work every day and is saving tons of money every day by driving to work.
“I would go the beach in Santa Cruz and explore as much as possible on my own.”
17 y/o female, Dublin
Adventure. The other day I handed out refrigerator magnets for our school and my friend laughed at me for being so stringent. The advertisement read, “no texting, no speeding, and no drinking” when driving. He told me that teenagers don’t want to be lectured since these restrictions are already common sense. Instead, the advertising magnets should focus on freedom and living their dreams. Well, going to the beach and being a teenager is a great motivating factor to learn how to drive and it makes us all feel energized inside…as long as there’s no texting, speeding, and drinking involved.
“Is this a trick question?”
18 y/o male, Alamo
Feeling Comfortable. This gentleman was a sharp cookie and we had a good laugh. Sometimes, the best answers are a non-answers and the intention was to break the ice. The ice was broken.
“I would give rides to my friends since they’ve been giving me rides for all these years.”
18 y/o female, San Ramon
Selfless. Not only was her answer thoughtful about returning the favor to her friends, but she even followed-up to ask me what was the first thing that I did when I received my lesson. She’s well on her way to earning a doctorate in empathy and compassion when she goes off to college next Fall. To note, aside from teaching driving techniques, we do also integrate defensive driving fundamentals and call out scenarios for courteous behavior. Obviously, this student needs very little help in courteous driving.
“I can’t wait to just drive to each of my friend’s house and show up at their driveway letting them know that I can drive by myself.”
15 y/o female San Ramon
Celebration. Sometimes, the best way to celebrate is with friends. And since you are not allowed to drive with your friends for the first 6 months after receiving your driver’s license for minors, her answer was the best answer for socializing with friends. She went on to tell me that she’ll just show up at their driveway unannounced and ask her friends to look out their window.
“Because of covid19, I’ve been ordering door dash for 2 years. I just want to get some fast food myself.”
-19 y/o male, San Ramon
Freedom. Shelter-in-place due to COVID19 has caused tremendous pain. Finding these small wins and simple pleasures in life is a great way to regain a normal and social society. I can’t just imagine our student’s emotions when he drove up to the In-N-Out drive through on his own. I also can’t imagine having to order door-dash for the last two years which many of us had gone through a similar experience, especially teenagers.
