At the age of 16, a lot of things are happening. Remember when it was the weekends and you would go out to parties with your friends and participate in underaged drinking and smoking in someone’s low ceiling basement? That was never me. I was the one that stayed home most days even if it was doing legal things like getting food or watching a movie and I blame my introverted personality for that. I did not want to go out and drive places or go with my friends who were still at the time terrible drivers. The only people I trusted to drive me around were my dad and my brother.
I have a lot of family in the east coast, scattered mostly down south in Virginia and Georgia. Our road trips do not end since we go down there often. Because of these frequent road trips, we encounter several bad drivers that need to take their road test again and we’ve experienced too many close calls. Ever since then, I never wanted to get into driving and I did not trust anyone whenever I sat in the car.
My parents did not understand my fear of driving but that was not their fault and I actually extol them for making me get my license as early as possible. The process leading up to actually getting my license was unbearable and absolutely nerve wrecking. The driving school instructor even described my driving as “too careful.” My brother took matters in his own hands and decided to teach me how to drive from that moment. A few days later I got behind the wheel with him in the car, and the first thing he said to me was “focus on the road.” I smirked and thought, “what else would I do behind the wheel?” He guided me step by step on what to do from the time I unlocked the car to the time I was pulling back in the driveway.
While I was cruising through our town and practicing how to make turns, I had a brain fart and forgot how to be patient. I thought I could make the left turn in time before the car passed me first and decided to floor it and make the turn and at that point I had to commit so I quickly turned and almost caused a collision with another car. After this situation, my brother just reassured me that I have to make better judgement calls and be patient while on the road.
“We aren’t in a hurry, man. Don’t worry about making turns fast or slow. You’re still learning and that is part of the process.”
I already knew the lesson was a success despite the slip up because he was patient and trusted me as I was driving. I noticed his body language and the way he explained certain situations and techniques. Describing him as calm wouldn’t do it justice because he made it seem like I have been driving for years now and that boosted my confidence on the road. I was a defensive and safe driver and my fear of getting behind the wheel was significantly reduced.
I took his mentality and continued to live by that and further expand on it as he would. He not only steered me into a path that taught me how to be more understanding, patient, relaxed, and quick at thinking, but he also helped me overcome the obstacles I faced in the rest of my high school years and currently in college. Beyond school, everyone I encounter notices how gentle, calm, patient, and understanding I am. The only thing that makes me happy is knowing that I have made an impact on many people in my life. The road was clear to me.
Memories never fade.
Patel Brothers 