As my junior year wraps up, I would like to write about this year as a time of success with slight bumps in the road. But if I did, that would be a lie, and if you’ve read most of my recent columns you would know that I am not dramatic and I’m not a liar.

This year, while I attained good grades and kept up with my extracurricular activities, it seemed like I was doomed for failure. From falling down the stairs of my home and having to tell my cross country coaches the embarrassing reason why I couldn’t run in the meet that day, to having my Instagram account hacked for two weeks, it seemed that I could not catch a break due to minor but still embarrassing events.

You might be asking yourself, “How is she so brave to deal with something as horrible as falling down the stairs and having her account hacked?” My response to that is, I don’t know. My bravery is not only a shock to me but a shock to my journalism peers.

An even bigger hit to my ego was the realization that being 17 and not knowing how to drive was even more embarrassing than I thought. Having to wait for my dad to pick me up from practice and meets is not only sad but also extremely awkward. Every day I wait 15 minutes with the freshmen who also can’t drive. Most will be asking, “You’re 17 and have your permit, why can’t you just get your license?” My answer to that is, I don’t want to. I am not only a hazard to everyone on the road and myself, but I am also extremely scared of the DMV.

I will go as long as I can without my license until I’m forced to go there by one of my parents. If you are near one of my parents for more than five minutes you might realize that could take place in maybe one to four weeks. I am writing this in fear that I don’t actually have a dentist appointment tomorrow and my parents are lying and forcing me to go to the DMV. The battle of wanting a license but fearing driving and the DMV is very tense and serious for me, and I find myself battling it every day I’m forced to wait after practice.

I write this in hope that the next time you see one of my columns, I have successfully gotten my license, or at least beaten my fear of the DMV and the people who work there.