Personal Narrative: Turn Of The Road

“Mom, come on!” I yell while I’m already rushing to the car. Soon enough, she comes out the garage and sits in front of me in the driver’s seat. I listen excitedly as her keys jingle and feel so much relief as the air vents come on, putting me out of my misery in the the dry, 95 degree heat. The radio plays in the background while I look out the window at the scenery I see everyday on my way to school.

He knew it was going to be a no excuses to lose to weather and it was going to be a good day for fans to watch football tonight. He had met with Kyle Cannon who was the quarterback for the team and a running back on the team named Dion Gordon;

I never realized how boring and long a car ride could seem when you’re anxious and excited for what’s to come. I never knew what waited down the path I chose, and how easily something can be lost. These events led me to the way I am today and whom I want to be in th future.

What makes a student a good student? Typically we may think about a book worm stuck away studying in the dark as the “A+” standard. However, is that really what it takes to prosper in education? I believe that being an educated and intelligent person goes beyond book work and requires oneself to be sociable, confident, accepting, and prepared to face challenges. Recently in my senior year I have learned more about myself, and looking at one event in particular, realized how my ability to break a racial divide has prepared me for life after high school.

Around two or three years ago my family and I had to move houses. Moving was sudden and we didn't know it was going to happen. This made moving out and into the other house a lot harder. Since we were moving so fast somethings we just decided to leave behind with the person that was still living there. We got most things with us but one thing that we did leave back in the old place was our living room tv. Since we had just moved and my family isn't rich my mom said we couldn't go get a new one for some time. This sucked because I used the tv a lot for watching show, movies, and playing games just like the rest of my family did. Having a tv wasn't something we needed at all but it was always something to do when you were bored and there was no other things to do. Another big thing was my grandma had just gotten us a new playstation 3 and now we weren't able to used it at all because there was no television. Not having a tv was bummer for me and I thought it was a huge problem when it really wasn’t.

The wind rushes through my hair as I speed through the back roads to my happy place. The humongous corn fields quickly disappear into my rear view mirror when I rip off the road into the field. I can feel the bass bouncing through out my jeep as Shania Twain blares through the speaks of my jeep. With my windows down, I’m sure everyone in 4 mile radius can hear my music too. My hands grip the leather wheel as I hit each bump of the open field. As I hear my friends singing Party For Two with me, a laugh escapes my mouth. I know my friends aren’t paying attention as I speed up to hit the steep 2 foot drop off. My body leaves my seat as I scream with joy, but Lexie and Mackenzie scream with terror as they bounce around their seats. Over dramatic

I could feel the air moving across my feet and up my legs and the wind hitting my face. It was a warm breeze. I was pedalling along when I noticed up ahead there was a dip in the road. As I got closer and closer, the dip grew bigger and bigger. When I finally arrived at the dip, I couldn't stop.

It felt as if time didn't pass. Even though the pavement was moving by at a steady rate it didn't feel like we were getting anywhere. The man who was an idol to me may be gone, taken, ripped away from me. He was basically that father that did not have. As we drove I thought of the times we had together. Like when I was 9 and we build a 50 foot hot-wheels track that had it all. Twists, turns, loops and jumps. The bright orange track had all the possibilities in the world. We would modify the little toy cars so that they went too fast for our own good. Painting, building and making those little 3 inch cars brought me more enjoyment than I could handle.

On September 18th I embarked on what I can easily say was one of my favourite road trip experiences.

When I got fired from my job over the summer I realized there wasn't a lot to do. I was bored. This led to me exploring the woods around my house.I found lots of things, old oil cans, empty budweisers, and coyote traps, but the biggest thing I found was a trailer.

Driving on a rutted, gravel road, it felt so serene, even though it was a misty, foggy, cold day. But I never knew I was going to to lose all of the memories I had for years forever.

I glance over into the passenger’s seat and look into sapphire eyes that remind me of the sea touching the shore, but getting sent away abruptly. Focusing back on the road, I feel a hand touch mine delicately, making little circles on my skin and making me forget all that ever was and all that ever will be. All I know is this moment and that nothing else matters.

Sitting there anticipating the outcome, like sitting the DMV when you are sixteen waiting for the results of the driver licenses test. I sit there waiting, patiently, for the freedom. Feeling itch of having my foot on the pedal one more time. Pacing back and forth wearing out the tile beneath my feet, the relief comes over me when the tall, exhausted salesmen approaches. Handing me the keys and the papers proving the car is now mine I start jumping with excitement, throwing my arms around the salesmen, hugging him tight, I thank him. Turning on my heels I dash for the door, running to the car with a smile on my face from ear to ear, adrenaline racing, I find myself dancing in the middle of the lot waving my arms around, spinning in circles. Catching my breath, a run my hand over the hood of the car one more time, clicking that little grey button, hearing it welcomes me back with the two honking beeps. I sliding back into the soft leather driver’s seat still warm for heater, inhaling the sweet aromas. Sliding the fresh cut key into the ignition, the engine roars to life, ready to take on the roads, the adventures, the

I sat there thinking about what just happened, trying to process all the things that occurred in that short period of time in my dazed state. I remember driving on the rough terrain as I heard the gravel clinking against the rims of the ATV. Me being a jovial 7-year-old I had a need for speed and you bet I was trying to drive as fast as this machine could muster. I dangerously swerved around potholes and heard my tires drifting. Bringing my young mind a thought of pride and maturity of being able to drive a vehicle for maturer kids. Reaching my favorite spot, the largest puddle on the road. Feeling so much enthusiasm going through it and to feel the cool wet water splash my legs felt marvelous on the hot summer day. As I approached the puddle I was way further to the right of the road than I realised, and knew this would end badly.

On a chilly October evening around 8 o’clock a sole road leads me from Bowlus to Royalton. My eyes burn from the wind blowing into them all evening, my body aches from sitting in a single spot for hours, unable to make a move, not seeing a thing. As dusk sets, the chilled air pricks my pale skin with an abundance of goosebumps. The heat blasts through the vents to prevent the windows from frosting over and brings warmth to my skin. The car has no insurance yet, so my parents were hesitant to let me drive it. After pleading to them that I was responsible and old enough, the moment finally came. They said multiple times that I needed to be extra careful, but eventually they handed me the keys. The radio echoes the lyrics May We All through the car while I hum along. The rumbling of my stomach silences the thumping of the bass, since the last time I ate had been around lunch. The sky was somber and the moon was hidden behind the jet-black clouds. The headlights of the car reflects off the tar like a spotlight lighting up an empty stage. Warm air glides across my relaxed hand on the steering wheel. Corn and bean fields, soon to be harvested, surround the road that takes me home. It's a serene night. I am about five minutes away from home and just about to go around one of the only curves that I drive on every day, so I slow my normal 65 to about a 60, and prepare for the turn.