Every day, I wonder where some people on the road got their license. Whether I’m in the car with my mom or on the school bus, I sit there trying to figure it out—because no matter where I go, the number of inconsiderate and unsafe drivers never changes. Maybe it’s because they don’t value their own life. But they need to understand that other people do. I value mine. After everything I’ve pushed through—college applications, clubs, volunteering, being in the LPN program—I did not come this far to have my future ruined by somebody who thinks they can beat a red light.

To me, impaired driving  means you are not mentally or physically in the right state to be behind the wheel. A lot of people misunderstand it. They think impaired driving only means drunk driving. No. You can be impaired from being tired, stressed, angry, high, distracted, or even trying to text “I’m on my way.” It’s anything that prevents you from fully focusing on the road. Drivers who passed driver’s ed often act like they “already know,” but once they get comfortable and overconfident, they forget everything.

The most common impairments I see today are texting, drinking, and just being impatient. I’ve never understood drinking. The taste is horrible, the smell is horrible, and the way it messes with your balance and thinking is ridiculous. You want to know why it’s so dangerous? Alcohol gets absorbed straight into the bloodstream rapidly. This causes major problems over time. If you can’t think straight or even walk straight, why do you think you can drive a whole car? It makes no sense.

Another big one is fatigue. When you’re tired, your brain basically goes on airplane mode. Your reaction time slows down, you miss signs, and you drift without even noticing. And then there’s impatience—the “I’ll make it before that car turns” people. They’re dangerous. Most accidents near my house happen because someone refused to wait two seconds. One impatient driver can damage someone’s car, someone’s body, and someone’s entire life. And if people think those numbers are high, they should look at drunk driving deaths. It happens way more than people want to admit.

 

Ever heard of wrong place, wrong timing? For all the pedestrians that fell short to death due to impatient, tired, or drunk drivers—it all comes down to being in the wrong place. Seeing what patients go through after an accident made me think so hard about how fast a life can be taken or damaged just because someone thought they were “okay” to drive. It changed the way I think about driving forever. Now, when I’m on the road, I drive for everyone around me. Everyone has somewhere to go. Everyone has a family. Everyone has a future they’re trying to reach. Why should my decisions endanger that?

Driver’s education helped me see driving differently. It wasn’t just them teaching me signs and rules. It was the mindset. They drilled that driving is a responsibility, not just a privilege. They taught me that good drivers think BEFORE they act. It makes you picture how fast things can go wrong. And honestly, that’s what makes the training effective—it teaches more than rules, it teaches awareness. It was one of the few classes I actually enjoyed on FLVS.

And the truth is, even when we drive safely, that doesn’t mean others will. A few weeks ago, I thought it was the end for me. Too focused on the bike going in the same direction, my friend drove out into the road taking a left turn. All I saw was a car coming at us. I kept saying her name: “Emily! Emily!! Look, the car—the car!” She stepped on the gas, and we barely evaded the oncoming car. On the rest of the way home, my heart was pounding, like dang, I almost lost my life. Nothing but the grace of God got us out of that situation, because she could’ve frozen up at the sight of an oncoming car. And yes, I was contemplating going with her again. That’s really how fast you can lose your life.

The role I can play in preventing impaired driving is simple: I refuse to be part of the problem. When I’m behind the wheel, I check every mirror, I stay alert, and I think ahead. If I’m ever too tired or too overwhelmed, I won’t drive. If someone around me tries to drive impaired, I will speak up. If we need a ride, we will call an Uber—simple. I won’t risk my life or anyone else’s.

Driving isn’t just transportation. It’s a life-or-death responsibility. Winning this scholarship would help me keep pushing forward through senior year, but it would also support me in staying focused on what truly matters: reaching my goals safely with respect for every single life on the road.