Your wee girl is now a licensed UK driver!!! Woooohooo!!

After 50 hours of driving lessons, two humbling flops, and a third comeback—I finally passed!
Was it expensive? Oh yes. Let’s just say my bank account is still crying.
Driving lessons = sponsored by tears, noodles, and sardines. (Mahal ang tuyo dito sa UK)

I now fully respect the DVA’s commitment to road safety.
Anyone can drive after 10 hours of lessons, but can they drive safely? I had to prove it to them and finally met the standard the third time.
Quick hint: the examiner asked me to pull over 5–6 times throughout the 40-minutes test.
They want to make sure you’re doing your mirror checks religiously and exaggeratedly.

Here’s the scorecard:
1st attempt: 3 serious, 13 minors = jazz hands driving. This was the moment I sang “Jesus Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood.
2nd attempt: 2 serious, no minors = dramatic improvement, still illegal
3rd attempt: 8 minors, no serious = legal, alive, still dramatic

When the examiner said, “You passed,” I nearly launched into orbit.
But then he added: “Zennie, you’re a safe driver… but can you please step on the brake gently?”

This journey was long, hard, expensive—but so worth it. It’s a milestone. And a reminder:
Don’t give up. Even if you fail hard. Endure. Even when it costs you. Because in time—it pays off.

My prayer that morning of my third attempt:
“Let today be fair and kind.
Let me show what I’ve worked so hard to learn.
But above all, let me carry peace through it all.”

Officially graduating from commutes and taxis.
Big love to the taxi drivers who became friends and never failed to get me to work.
You kept me moving—until I could take the wheel myself.