What I learned In a Stick Shift

I spent a lot of time rolling backwards and sweating the summer I learned how to drive my stick shift.

Definition of stick shift: a manually operated gear shift for a motor vehicle usually mounted on the floor

"Basically I have to shift my car in and out of gear when changing the amount the gas needed (ie changing speeds) and get it started by levering on and off the clutch." I told my sister as we celebrated my new car.

My first day learning how to drive was beyond challenging. I questioned if stick “really was for me.” I killed the car (the entire car turns off with the wrong balance of clutch and gas, and needs the key turned over to restart) over 20 times in an hour. It sucked!

Then in my next outing I lowered the number to about 15 times that my car died. As we proceeded to graduate from the neighborhood, into bigger roads, I lowered my kill count to about 3 on average. I could finally start the car easily from a stop, but needed some intense focus in order to get going off a hill from a stop, and even still rolled backwards a bit.

I had to motion so many cars around me, as I frantically restarted the engine of the car, over and over again, after jerking to stop when I hadn’t balanced my clutch and gas. I was so nervous when driving by other people, or through intersections.

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” - Robert F. Kennedy

At one point I was turning around in a local cul-de-sac, and I slowed down without down shifting, which caused my engine to die, and to my embarrassment to fly. A few people my age were right there watching. I tried to pretend I was parked, but clearly my car had just died (which is very funny now, but at the time I was so frustrated to have killed my car and have to restart with an audience.) They had no idea how hard I was trying to drive this car.

It freaking sucked being a beginner. Over and over again, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get it to go. I was far from confident in my ability, and doubted if it was worth it to learn how to drive this car. I am so glad I did. I am a better driver because I learned to drive stick. There is now an irreplaceable confidence that comes from mastering a skill I started to fear I never would.

Driving stick has forced me to focus on myself as a driver. I have to be spot on with my reaction and movement in order to get my car to start and get into the right gear. After a few months of driving stick I was really been enabled to grab ahold of my own driving and feel empowered in my ability. I have be very aware of the cars around me, and dictate my stops and speeds even more in advance because I am considering my gears.

Eventually I was beginning to feel confident in my ability to drive my new stick. As I invited my sister and friends to ride with me I was feeling capable to drive them farther then the neighborhood.

It took so much frustration to get this car to work for me. It takes a “feeling” for the clutch and gas to balance in order get the car moving. I didn’t have this feeling naturally. It wasn’t just “press a button and go,” it took practice and skill gain. It took getting comfortable in my own capacity to master the driving.

I also had to learn how to react to dying and create quick recovery. With 10 cars lined up behind me, my car dying is treated with angry honks and other cars passing me, to which I have to snap into action and get my car started and re-try to get the feeling of it going. I have realized how much better I react under this pressure versus when I take my time to get the car out of the driveway. This pressure has shown me my capabilities when intensity is present, while when I move at my own pace I leave a bit more room for error. This was also great practice for my athletics when I am under pressure to perform. The more confident I become in my abilities the better my reaction is. When it comes down to it, I will get this car going.

I can happily say that I plan to continue to drive manual cars, and prefer them now. I appreciative the opportunity to fail and persevere into a state where I am now a better stick shift driver. For me this is great practice as an athlete and professional to encounter the struggle and frustration, and then to get on the other side of that. To work my mind to focus, react, persevere, and grow through over coming the challenge of learning a new skill.