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Drivers Ed.I
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Drivers Ed.I
Drivers Ed.
I start driver's ed tomorrow, and let me tell you, I am about to wet my pants. Mainly because I will have to take it with the private schoolers instead of the public schoolers. Another way to say it would be the mean people instead of the nice people. Every single girl from that private school that I've met is cruel. Ha. I cannot wait to rub in their face that yes, I'm homeschooled, and yes, I am actually a normal person, and no, I will not bow down to them. (And I'm a smidgen taller than them. Height is always an advantage.) Anyway, I'm am determined to give us a good name and wipe away this ridiculous stereotyping that somehow we are dorky, unsocial weirdos who wear baggy dresses and 70's glasses. Wish me luck, please. I'm so nervous.
Good luck, Mary Jo. My advice is to smile and be nice to everyone and pay attention to the teacher. Maybe you'll be the best driver of all! And might there be at least a few others in the class that are not private schoolers? Maybe even some other homeschoolers? Let us know how it goes.
Admin
submitted by Mary Jo, age 15
(May 31, 2011 - 8:04 pm)
(May 31, 2011 - 8:04 pm)
I absolutely loathe that sterotype. It is so frustrating going someplace new and knowing that everyone there is expecting you to be just that.
Good luck, MJ. :D Just ignore everyone there. It's not about socializing. :P That would definitely NOT be my reason to wet my pants about Drivers Ed. First-- I'm afraid to just GO, and second--I'm terrified of those gruesome movies they have to show. I think I'm starting in August sometime. My Drivers Ed will last a month. Ugh. How long is yours? And don't talk about nervousness with me... I get panic attacks quite easily!
(May 31, 2011 - 10:41 pm)
Thanks for the encouragement!! I'm about to leave (like right now). It only lasts four days, from 8-3:30 each day. I guess it could be worse.
(June 1, 2011 - 6:17 am)
(Good luck.) Is DE necessary for getting a driver's license? Spammy says erny. It's necessary for some guy named Ernie, but he doesn't know about the rest of us.
(June 1, 2011 - 7:32 am)
Oregano, it varies in each state. In WA, you have to take a month of it. See, MJ, you're lucky it's only a couple days!
(June 1, 2011 - 9:47 am)
Sounds Fun actually...good luck Mary Jo! Not to be mean but I love proving to schoolers (private and public) that homeschoolers are NOT uncivilized below grade level unsocial freaks. Most schoolers I've met are real nice like the schoolers on Chatterbox who are the NICEST kids/teens EVER, but others are mean snobby and even bad. Go prove them wrong Mary Jo! (I am trying to say this without offending anyone so if I did I am suuuper sorry.)
(June 1, 2011 - 4:13 pm)
Actually, I've never had that stereotype. I've always thought that it was the parent's choice because they think it's better for their kids!
I wish you sooooo much luck, Mary Jo! And show those kids that you are the most awesome driver ever! Don't get in any crashes! Give us all a feedback on it (advice for the younger buggies :D) Anyway, GOOD LUCK! *horse shoe* *four leaf clover*
(June 1, 2011 - 9:40 am)
Driver's Ed was irritating. As I recall it mainly consisted of showing us videos of horrific, teen-and-alcohol-related crashes, and then saying OK ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE CAR OUT FOR A SPIN NOW?! One of my classmates hit a dog (at <10 mph, the dog was fine, don't worry).
I'm sure you'll do fine though. Driving is easy and driving laws are for the most part a matter of common sense.
(June 1, 2011 - 11:48 am)
I can't see the other 3 comments yet, but I'll post anyway. I made it!! When I walked in, there I was, standing in the middle of the cafeteria with people who I didn't know sitting at tables all around me and chatting with each other. I experienced a moment of complete desperation. Then I saw this public school girl who I knew, who's really friendly, but in a patronizing way, like an I'll-be friendly-to-you-pathetic-homeschooler-since you-have-such-a-pathetic-life kind of friendly. Anyway, I knew that the girls she hangs out with are pretty nice, so I went and sat with her, plus I would have sat with any familiar face at that moment. Sure enough, a bunch of nice girls came over and sat with her. After that, I kind of sidled away from the patronizing girl and hung out with the other nice ones and met some new people. So it wasn't that bad. And by the way, Robyn, the videos they show us aren't as traumatizing as they are sad. They don't scare me, they just make me feel so awful for the families of the victim.
Thanks for the report, MJ. The next class will be even easier for you.
Admin
(June 1, 2011 - 4:17 pm)
Oh, good! It sounds like it went well. And isn't meeting new people just so great (especially as a homeschooler :D)? Oh, I get sick at just a tiny bit of violence/blood so... it still might be gruesome to me. ;S I'm going to pretend to take notes and not watch everytime the TV is turned on! But I'm glad it went well. Lucky duck. One week. And you can get your permit immediately. I can't get mine until ten days before I start the class! Ugh. I really want it. :)
(June 2, 2011 - 10:44 am)
MJ, I'm so glad that everything went well! :D *high fives* When I read what you wrote about being worried about the other teens there, I knew you had nothing to worry about--you're so nice, I knew you'd find someone to talk to! I can't wait to get my license. But first I have to go to FL and take DE...that should be awhile. :p
(June 2, 2011 - 4:27 pm)
I know, Kimberly! My dad let me drive around (even though I don't have a permit) (on back streets... shhhhhhh!) and I felt very confident! :D Do you get to choose which state you want to take DE in? That would be amazing...
(June 2, 2011 - 6:35 pm)
@R~D~: Ha, ha, I won't tell anyone. ;) The only practice I've had with driving so far has been on the tractor at our old house, but mom & dad have mentioned letting us practice sometime...I'd just love to try it out! :D Nope, we have our residence listed in FL, so to FL we must go. :p
FYI, my father first let me take the wheel in a cemetery.
Admin
(June 2, 2011 - 10:23 pm)
My parents have been trying to teach my brother for a while, but they can only legally do it when we're on vacation (think a half-mile long dirt road), and we don't stay for very long, so he can't drive yet. But that means a huge nuisance for my parents who then have to ferry him around this town and the next! Dad asked me recently when I wanted to learn to drive, and I said preferably before college, but maybe after. (Most of the ferrying is so my brother can practice the piano, so there's one thing I don't have to worry about. *grins like a maniac and pumps fists in the air while jumping up and down*)
Spammy says zbcu. ZB can see me? I'm going to cover up the camera on this computer.
(June 3, 2011 - 7:24 am)
@Kimberly: Why specifically FL?
@MJ: Sounds like it went pretty well! I bet you're a good driver. :) And lucky, you only have to take it for a few days--I have to take it Monday-Thursday for three weeks. AND I just found out that even though our moms were sure they would let three of us be driving partners together, they don't. Of the two girls I was going to take it with, one I've known for years and years, and the other one I met fairly recently, though we get along great. Unfortunately, my friend M has known L (the recent one) for ages, and L's shy around new people, so they will probably be more comfortable together. That leaves me to drive with someone I've never met before and probably don't like...!
(I start Monday.)
(June 3, 2011 - 2:13 pm)
Congrats, MJ! It sounds like the people aren't that bad anyway! You didn't have any accidents, right?
(June 3, 2011 - 10:40 am)