When the school bell rings it is time to rush to the parking lot and get out of school as quickly as possible to beat the traffic. Without a license, waiting for a parent or the bus can be frustrating when seeing your fellow classmates cruising around in their cars with blasting music. Nowadays, 16 year olds are expected to have their license because it is the age that the majority of students get theirs. Some students shared how the expectation to have a driver's license can be harmful.
The question of “Why do you not have a license?” is frequently asked and some may be unaware that it may not be as simple as one with a license may think. The reasons can vary depending on the student. Some students cannot afford to have a car, or some students have health conditions that can cause setbacks. Many students at Campolindo play a sport or have a job which can cause them to not have time to get a license as well. Some activities can be very demanding on a student and this is also a reason why getting a license may be tough for some if their schedule is too busy. Students should be less judgemental to others that do not have a license.
Junior Kate Griffith shared how it is a big inconvenience for her when having to drive other students around that don’t have a license. “I have my license and have driven Jackson Bartlett around and have driven him home. I really hope he gets his license soon.” Griffith’s frustration is understandable, but her outlook on her friend getting his license is not realistic. Griffith also stated, “I do expect him to have it also because he is old enough to have it so I don’t really understand why he doesn’t have it because having a license is great.”
This is a perfect example of the expectation to get a license at a certain age. There are many stereotypes surrounding people who don’t have a license such as they are lazy or unmotivated without taking into consideration that getting a license does not happen instantly.
Junior Caitlin Coyle shared how when people ask her about getting a license and why she doesn’t have it, it is, “always an awkward conversation because everyone expects people that are my age to have their license.” Like Griffith, Coyle is also asked to drive others around. “Whenever people ask me to drive their kids somewhere or pick something up I have to tell them I can’t because I can't drive yet.” Coyle is on the other end of Griffith’s situation – one of the toughest places to be.
Students should stop putting others down who cannot drive. Everyone’s story is different and there is no reason to shame others because there was a point in time where every person with a license had to find an alternative to getting places because they could not drive yet. If you think that driving someone else around is too big of an inconvenience, then you can decide to stop.
Teachers agree that the expectation nowadays is not realistic. The stress that students without a license have to endure is real, but goes unnoticed.
Learning skills teacher Holly McCarthy, spoke about her experience when getting a license. “I felt the same pressure when I was 16 growing up in Walnut Creek. In fact, I failed my first driving test and didn't get my license until I was 17 which was hard on me.” McCarthy went on and spoke about how she has noticed how tough it can be on students to not have a license in Moraga especially. “I think there are a lot of expectations and pressures for students to get their driver's license at 16 in this community. In other communities I have worked in there is not as much pressure as there is here in Moraga.”
Getting a driver's license right at the age of 16 can work out for some, but not for everyone. Just because someone does not have a license does not mean they are not working towards it or don’t want it. The process is long and students should think twice before questioning why someone does not have a license.
