She was calmer than I was

In over five years as a driving instructor, I've seen hundreds of people react to the driving test in every way imaginable — from nervous blanks to full panic, to abandoning the appointment five minutes before it starts.

And then there are people like Amanda.

We met at the DMV for the first time thirty minutes before her test — just enough time for two laps around the block to get comfortable with the car before the mandatory check-in. From the first moment, she was unusually calm. Frankly, I was more nervous than she was.

That morning, a check engine light had come on in my car, and I noticed a slight misfire at low RPM on the way over. A strict examiner could cancel the test over something like that. I flagged it before they left — he didn't make it an issue.

About fifteen minutes later they returned. The examiner got out quickly — always a good sign. Amanda had finished the same way she started: composed and successful.

Congratulations on the attitude and the confidence.