San Luis Obispo High School students have faced numerous difficulties surrounding the nearly year-long pandemic closure. Whether it be altering their education schedule, or trying to start their monumental journey to getting their driver’s license, COVID-19 has made this experience minimally convenient.
Expressions set out to ask students what this experience has been like for them, as well as what new whip they will hopefully be fashioning in the eventual return to school.
Expressions: When were you planning on getting your license?
Junior Eden Lerner: I was scheduled to get my license March 28th in 2020, so I was still a sophomore.
Junior Nolan Dorn: I kind of procrastinated on getting my permit and then the DMV closed completely back in March when I had finally finished my drivers Ed.
Junior Mckenna Cassidy: I ended up getting my license a few months late due to just not getting my permit of time, but it ended up working out super well for me. I got my permit right before the DMV closed in March, then I got my license in September, exactly six months from that day.
Junior Makenna Osterfeld: I was planning on getting my license in June of 2020.
Expressions: When did you actually get your license?
Lerner: Unfortunately, since I was among the first to get cancelled, I had to wait three months till I got a new appointment. I went to the DMV four times to try and reschedule in person and every time they sent me home. It was so frustrating, however, I ended up getting my license June 14, 2020.
Dorn: Then when I finally got my appointment for my license in December, they canceled all drive tests until February, so I just got my license in the beginning of this month.
Cassidy: I had to check the website multiple times everyday to try and get an appointment, so that was a little frustrating, but I definitely got super lucky with that. The test was only seven minutes total for me, due to COVID, so it was super easy and relieving.
Osterfeld: I got it in August, about a month after when I could have gotten it.
Expressions: If you are able to drive currently, what are you driving?
Lerner: I now drive a manual Mini Countryman. His name is Arnold.
Dorn: I’m driving a 2002 Toyota Tacoma that I bought with the help of my parents a few months ago.
Osterfeld: I am currently driving a Mazda CX5.
An overall trend is that the pandemic has set back many students and when they ended up getting their drivers’ license. Though very frustrating, numerous students can attest that gaining this level of independence is well worth it.
