A Job to be Done

I have always wanted to travel for as long as I can remember and on my 21st birthday my mum bought me a block of driving lessons. I kept hinting that I wanted to learn to drive so I could get myself a camper van to go travelling in. I had been riding a motorcycle up to that point, but knew I wouldn't be able to carry all my stuff on it so a camper van was what I wanted.

On my first lesson the driving instructor talked me through the basics and I drove around a quiet area for a bit, mainly stopping and starting. I was worried about changing the gears, as I didn't think I would be able to do it, but the driving instructor assured me I would get the hang of it. After a few lessons I booked my theory test. I was very nervous about taking the test and had spent weeks revising. I did worry that I may have over revised and would muddle it all up when I went for the test, but I didn't and I passed.

After the theory test my driving instructor said he would start preparing me for the practical test. I couldn't wait, I had been and bought myself a new car and was dying to drive it on my own. The camper van idea had kind of gone out the window when I saw how much they cost, so I got a car instead. I'd just have to get a tent to sleep in instead.

When I was learning to drive I kept forgetting what gear I was in. I was looking down to see the gear stick all the time. The driving instructor said I needed to stop it and eventually I managed to stop doing it. The day of the practical test came and I was so nervous. I met the examiner and he seemed pleasant enough. I got in the car, started the engine and when we went to move off it conked out. I was so annoyed. In the whole time I had been learning to drive the engine never conked out once, and there I was on my driving test, still in the car park and conking out.

Thankfully the rest of the test went OK and there were no major mishaps. I was a bit worried when I was asked to reverse around a corner as that wasn't my strong point, but I did it and felt very proud. I was so excited thatI could hit the open road and travel the world.