In our last installment of DMV: The Happiest Place On Earth Jessie had just completed her driving test and was on the verge of not passing... 

We walked back into the building and she asked where my mom was.  She was on a mission. Speechless, I pointed to my mom. Ms. Grouchy Tester DMV Lady marches right up into my mom’s face and starts barking out all the things I did wrong.   

She basically said all the things she told me; I'm too slow, need to work on my turns, should not drive a big car.... My mom was politely defending me saying that I was probably just nervous and I really was a good driver. My mom even told her that she is relaxed and very calm when I drive. The lady said in a loud, defensive tone, “I was calm and relaxed too!”  Now that a little time has gone by, that was probably the funniest thing this lady said. The two of them went back and forth, the lady being negative and my mom defending me, and I silently prayed that they would both just stop. 

Ms. Grouchy Tester DMV Lady walked away all huffy and I wanted to cry. She left us standing there and did not tell us where to go next. My mom was being so nice to me and wanted to talk about it, but I really didn’t want to. My eyes started to tear because I thought I did a good job, but according to her, I didn’t. It wasn’t that I was nervous, since I like driving and feel comfortable while doing it, but her constant nagging really got to me. 

The next thing I know, I hear my name being called for my license picture. I passed! I went up there and more happy people asked me for photo identification, which, of course I left in the car. So I had to run back and get it. When I was walking to the car, Ms. Grouchy Tester DMV Lady was outside smoking a cigarette, like she was stranded on an island and had to get every last puff possible. So much for her being calm and relaxed. My mom said that maybe she had a really bad day or a bad night and she was taking it out on me. That made sense to me and I felt a little better.

I went to get my picture taken, and it was really hard to smile since I was on the verge of bursting into tears, but I did and I am content with my picture.

Well, thank goodness that is over. I will never have to go through it again, and I passed, so I am done worrying about it (had I not passed, that would have been another issue). 

I am going to be completely honest with you, I love driving! The day I got my license, I drove myself to dance class and it was great! It is nice not having to ask for a ride or wait for a ride to take you when they’re ready; you leave when you’re ready. 

The second day, I picked up one of my friends on the way to work, and we stopped at Dunkin Donuts for some early breakfast and I didn’t have to ask my mom to drive me, I could just go (of course, I need permission to use the car). 

The only thing that really stinks about driving is paying for insurance and gas. Gas is a ridiculous $4/gallon, which is crazy! I am a teenager who doesn’t have all that much money to be spending on driving, but I am going to make it work.          

Having your driver’s license gives you freedom, and I absolutely love having that freedom. I haven’t even had my license for a week, but I am so happy that I do. I am so grateful to have a car to drive. (My mom has already given us the speech that the second we fight over who gets to use the car, the car is no longer ours to use.) 

My sister and I share a 10-year-old car with 90,000 miles on it that my mom bought from my grandparents, in anticipation of having three teenage drivers in the near future. My little brother will be getting his learner’s permit on his 15th birthday, just months away. Two down, one to go.

Through my time at the DMV I learned a valuable lesson: you might not always like the way that those around you act, but you do have a choice of how you react and what to make of the situation. How I choose to deal with tough situations is writing about it for the world to read, and it all works out perfectly.