For me to say today was hectic is an understatement. The today was filled with permits, lines, people, and obstacles.

It all started with a card, yes a small card. I frantically searched my room and the closets for the card. As I was about to pay for a new card, my mother told me that my grandmother had the card. At that point, I didn’t want to hear anything. All I wanted was that card!

Mother’s always right! My grandmother had the card safely in her info box.  After I visited her, I went to the DMV. I stood in the never-ending line to be shut out for not having my birth certificate. My face turned red and I muttered, “Thank you,” to the clerk.  Angrily, I rushed out of the DMV & sought out my mother’s advice.

My mother said, “If you have the time, why not get the certificate and just take the test when you return to the DMV?”

Normally, I would have  complained in defeat & sulked at home, but getting my learner’s permit was a goal I wanted to accomplish. I did not take time off from work to not do anything.

The test itself was very difficult. Although many have told me that the test is easy if you have “common sense.” Well, many friends & family will tell you that I do not have common sense. I confess that I over analyze even the smallest things. In fact, as a little girl, I believed that 1 +1 = 11.

When I looked at the test, I did not seem English. The letters appeared small and intertwined.  The test reminded me of the AP Spanish exam. Everything looked the same. I literally had to sit down and read the test. The test was nothing like writing an essay… I will definitely say that much!

When the clerk told me that I passed, I could not belief it. The security guards laughed at me because I could not believe it. I am so proud of myself: not only that I passed but more importantly, because I did not give up.

Becoming a better person entails not letting the smallest obstacles get in your way. I spent many years being bitter because I was teased by classmates. I let what people say affect me to the point that I would not certain clothing, afraid that people were going to talk about me and mock me; I did not enjoy going to park because I was afraid of running in front of other people.

I was not going to let fear dictate and hinder myself from achieving for goals. If I were to fail the learner’s permit test, I knew that I could try again. No human is perfect. We win some & lose some, but never should an obstacle defer us from our dreams.