Getting behind the wheel

2–3 minutes

AHS students talk about getting their driver’s licenses

For many high school students, obtaining a driver’s license marks a wheel-y big milestone in their lives. Whether they’re driving to school or hanging out with friends, freshly licensed students at AHS are navigating what it means to finally be in the driver’s seat.

Getting a license is not a simple task. From the permit test to the practical behind-the-wheel examination, the process can take months of preparation. Shreeya Manga (11) said, “This process was so unbelievably irritating. I had to go to the DMV to get my permit three times because I forgot something or the other, and then my first driving test got cancelled. But honestly, I kind of forgot about how annoying it was because now I’m here and done.”

While some students jump at the opportunity to get licensed as soon as they are eligible, others feel less urgency. Saanika Urgaonkar (11) said, “I pretty much got it as soon as I was able to. I’m only 16, and I already have my license. I was excited about it. It was definitely something I wanted to do, not something I needed to do.”

On the other hand, some students aren’t in a rush to get their license. Kritika Sarkar (11) is not yet licensed, and she doesn’t care about getting one. “My mom and dad keep on yelling at me to get my license, but I just don’t want to. I like when my friends drive me around,” she said.

The main reason why students feel so eager to get licensed is because of the sense of freedom it offers. Urgaonkar said, “I just wanted the independence to drive and go places by myself without needing my parents.”

Driving has changed the routines of many AHS students. Being licensed gives students the ability to handle their own commutes, run errands, or hang out with friends on their own time. Finn Dotson (12) said, “It’s been a lot easier because a lot of the time when my friends want to go out, my dad is taking a nap. So, now I can just go, and I don’t have to wake him up. Or, if I have to get to school early for council or something, then I can just drive myself.”

Despite the newfound independence and freedom, many parents still choose to limit their children’s ability to drive. “I have to ask for permission to use the car, and I’m the last priority to get it. I can only drive myself and my parents,” Urgaonkar explained. “I think the limitations are a little extreme, but I also understand where they’re coming from.”

Whether students like it or not, getting a driver’s license is undoubtedly a defining moment in high school life. It’s a rite of passage that entails both new responsibilities and new freedoms. As more students at AHS take the wheel, it’s clear that driving is not just about getting from one point to another—it’s about moving forward toward independence, adulthood, and the open road.