When I was in high school, Driver’s Ed was a
required class, and I took it during the 2nd semester of my 10th
grade year. After the class, I could have gotten my driving permit, but because
I wasn’t willing to discuss things with other people, I didn’t. I took Driver’s
Training during the 1st semester of my 11th grade year,
and after the class, I could have gotten my driver’s license, but because I
wasn’t willing to discuss things with people, I didn’t. When I finally went to
the DMV to take the written test, so much time had passed since taking Driver’s
Ed, and since I hadn’t studied, I failed the test twice. I passed the test a
year later, but I went from possibly having a driver’s license at 15, to
getting it a few months shy of 17; not a big difference, but a difference.
During this same time, I had amassed enough credits
to be able to graduate from high school one semester early. However, when I
approached my counselor to tell her that I was ready to leave school, she asked
me if I had taken the Civics class that was required for seniors. When I
realized that I hadn’t, I was forced to return to school for an additional
semester in order to take a single class. As it turned out, if I had spoken to
my counselor before my senior year in high school, I would have known about the
class, would have taken the class, and would have finished high school one
semester early.
The meaning of this is that young people often
convince themselves that older generations are not able to relate to the modern
times, and thus cannot offer advice or information that will help the current
generation. The truth is that experience is a great teacher, and people who
have experienced things can use those experiences as educational tools for the
next generations.
I always tell my children that they need to be
willing to, and cannot be afraid to, ask for help. It is possible to learn
things on one’s own, but at times, there will be a need to get answers from
people who have information that we do not have, or who can give us insight
into an unknown situation, like with my driver’s license.
Asking for help does not make a person weak or
inferior. In fact, the opposite is true. Greater strength is required when we
admit that we do not know everything, and that help is needed, or that we
simply need to speak to someone about our situation. Stewing in a vat of
misinformation does not make us stronger. Asking for help shows strength, and
receiving help when needed strengthens us even more.
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