Early on a Thursday morning, Roland Garcia stood next to his grandmother and waited in line at the Department of Public Safety office in Humble. If all went well, this would be the day he would get his driver’s license, the next step to becoming an adult.

Garcia, who is 18, had been waiting for this moment since he turned 15.

He had taken an online drivers course and done a lot of driving practice. Garcia was as prepared as he could be for the test.

After friends and family bid him good luck, he headed for the driving portion of  the test.

After about 25 minutes, Garcia swaggered back into the room with a wide grin on his face: He had passed and could not have been happier.

It turns out that practice does make perfect.  

“I got out of my comfort zone and started driving on the freeways so that I can get used to driving a one-ton metal death box,” Garcia said.   

High school is the time for many firsts. First love, first college application, first job, first college classes, first plans for the future.

This is also when most teenagers start to drive, get their permits and finally their license. Some learn how to drive from their parents or family members. Others take drivers ed. Some students can’t wait to drive while others put it off for as long as possible.

After all, it’s just another step in the long staircase to becoming an adult.

Senior Chloe Ham also did an online driving course, which she found boring and tedious but it paid off. . Ham passed her driver’s test on the very first try.

“It was the best day of my life,” Ham said.

To make the day as easy as possible some students go to Spring or Cleveland to take their test so they don’t have to wait in line for hours on end. The day and time determines the wait time. Sometimes a short 15 minute wait and sometimes a long two hour wait.

“I drove out to Cleveland DPS office to take my test because very little people go there and the wait was minimal,” senior Logan James said.

The best tip these three student drivers give:

Practice. Practice Practice.

Even if you think you’re ready to take the test, still practice. Practice parallel parking. Practice driving in reverse. Practice turning and braking.

Practice only makes you better. It will be worth it in the end.