Well done Joseph!

All test passes are amazing, but some are just a bit more rewarding than others, and this was one of those. Joseph started his journey to becoming a full licence holder pre pandemic back in November 2019. I don’t think he will mind me saying that at first he was very nervous, being aware of the potential consequences of getting it wrong. I have to say, that is not a bad thing, as cars can be lethal weapons in the wrong hands, and it is reassuring when new pupils readily acknowledge that fact.

We were quickly able to overcome those fears and get on with the task of learning to drive, something which is very specific to each individual learner. Like most learners, Joseph struggled with some aspects of driving in the early days, but between us we were able to identify the causes and formulate strategies to overcome any difficulties, something we continued throughout his time with me. It’s not all about teaching, or coaching, sometimes it is just about having the patience and determination to practice, practice, practice, until you can simply just do it.

It is so important to all learners that what they do inside the car, that is, their control of it, becomes automatic, so they can then focus their attention on what is going on outside of the car. They can then anticipate hazards and the actions of other road users, and react accordingly. Joseph was prepared to work as hard at this as any learner I have taught, and demonstrated the benefits of doing so perfectly in a lesson just before his test, when just as he was about to move out around a stationary bus, he spotted and avoided a cyclist which had appeared from nowhere alongside his door.

Like many other learners, in the weeks prior to it Joseph started to show some test nerves. Again we were able to work together to come up with strategies to help overcome those nerves. Clearly those strategies worked, as Joseph drove his test confidently and competently, coming back with a fantastic first time pass, just a few ‘minor’ driving faults, and received some lovely comments from the examiner who clearly wanted to show that he recognised what had been a good and very safe drive.

There are many things that made this pass so rewarding, not least the fact that Joseph’s learning was interrupted by all three COVID19 lockdowns. His test date was cancelled and moved numerous times, and he had to learn to cope with keeping his glasses from steaming up when wearing a mask. My thanks go to Joseph for being such a dedicated, hard working pupil, who refused to be beaten by anything, and to his parents for supporting his efforts throughout, particularly his Mum for dropping him off and picking him up from Worcester so that we could maximise his practice time there.

Finally, a huge thank you to you Joseph, and your family, for the lovely presents you gave me as a thank you for my role in helping you pass your driving test first time, but also for the many other gifts throughout your time with me, most recently the absolutely gorgeous courgettes grown by Henry.

Proof, that if you really want something, and work hard for it, you will succeed.
Well done Joseph!