How I learned to drive by myself

Learning itself is a skill that requires the mind to develop itself for problem-solving. An important ingredient in learning is passion and willingness. When my mind finds passion or interest in a subject for learning, it is usually easy to learn the intricacies that may be involved. Thus, learning could be difficult if the object or subject to be learned is difficult, but more importantly, if the learner has an interest or passion in what is to be learned.

My learning experience was that of driving a car. I had always wanted to know how to drive a car, but the availability of cars was limited. My dad would not just release his car for me to handle, even though I had clocked eighteen. Unfortunately, I was not comfortable going to a driving school, especially because I did not have a readily available vehicle to practice with after the training. My dad was pretty stingy with his car and guarded it like a new wife or precious baby. This, however, did not prevent me from stealing my dad's Mercedes-Benz to drive occasionally, even though it was limited to the compound.

I realized that getting anyone to teach me for free was going to be difficult, and I didn't like the idea of driving schools. I have heard from different sources that you would probably spend most of the days of the training doing practical sessions and sometimes hardly completing the basics of driving. Eventually, I made up my mind to learn driving by myself and committed myself to it. My strategy was simple: learn by observation. As simple as it sounds to learn by observation, it's never that simple when reality dawns.

I began to study drivers whenever I entered a car. I preferred to sit at the front where I could have access to observe the actions and inactions. I watched how the gears were changed and at what point. I felt very confident that I could handle a car when the time came. Lucky for me, my mom procured a Honda Accord in 2009. My older siblings were far away from town, and the implication was that I was the only male in the house to drive the car. This was how I laid my hands on the steering of a car for the first time on a major road. I had a mix of pride and fear as I drove my car past the seemingly narrow gate of the compound (probably because I was a newbie at it).

source

My first drive was to the main campus of the university, and there, I had no companion. I had a light brush on the rim of the tires as a result of distraction, but gradually, my hands stabilized on the steering. My mom was surprised when I informed her of my action, and it took a while before she was convinced to let me handle the car, not without attaching the learner sign to the car. I didn't mind the L sign on the car, for I knew it was only a matter of time before I overgrew such.

My driving skills have improved, and I have driven to distant parts of Nigeria like Kogi, Niger, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Sokoto. I have come to love driving and pride myself on it as a skill.

A skill I was required to learn before graduating from medical school was venepuncture or perhaps, cannula insertion. I was practically nonchalant about this skill as a student. Karma however caught up eith me as an intern when I was left alone to secure an intravenous access. My escape was a very lovely senior doctor who took his time to take me through the process and the skill has remained stuck with me till tomorrow.

Thank you for reading. I would love to have your comments and contributions.