J J Pearce High School - Mustang Yearbook (Richardson, TX)

Page 22 text:

To review for their written exam, driver's education students go over the basic rules with their instructor, Mr. Iim Lawrence. fDinwiddiej At the end of class, driver's education students do individual work in their books. fDinwiddieJ ? 18 X Student Life - Driver's License juniors Cari Bonner, Stacie Long, their newly-acquired driver's license Theresa Maxwell, and sophomores Lara fDinwiddieJ Barlow and Audrey Teagarden compare

Page 21 text:

ot just transportation As in past years, many students owned and drove cars. Some students worked for their cars, while others were given a car for their sixteenth birthday. For those students who worked for their automobile, the work did not end when the car payments were made. Paying for gas and maintenance usually kept the stu- dent Working at a part-time job. Ironically, obtaining transporta- tion to and from a part-time job junior Richard Gonzalez gives his Mustang a bath outside of his home this school year. Washin and waxing was a weekly ritual for Riciard. fOliverl was often high on the list of reasons for buying the car in the first place. Getting to a part-time job was only one reason to have a car. Other students had cars to get them to and from school or for equally imperative reasons such as going to football games or going on weekend excursions. Shoe polish and streamers dressed up cars for Friday football games and many students invested in expen- sive stereo systems that added life to any night out. Virginia Blocker, who owns a 1978 Chevrolet Camaro, said, It's great having a car but mine gives me a lot of trou- ble. It won't start for anyone but me! When Leeann Watson was asked what she thought of her 1982 Ford Mustang, she stated, I don't like it cause it's a Ford. It gets me around but it's brand new, the steering wheel is falling off and it gives me nothing but trouble! Most students seemed to agree, though, that although owning a car was sometimes troubleg it was also fun. On a day, early in the school year, an informal parking lot poll was taken. Chevrolets topped off our 200-car cross section with 53 automobiles, 23 of which were Camaros. After the Chevys there was Ford with 31 automobiles, 18 of which were Mustangs. Last but not least, in the top three, was Oldsmobile with a final count of 30, 23 of which were Cutlasses. After the top three, Pontiac was fourth followed by Toyota, Dat- sun, Buick, Volkswagen, Mazda, Mercury, Cadillac, Dodge, Plymouth, and A.M.C., in descen- ding order. Bottoming out our chart at a mere one automobile were Ieep, Triumph, Volvo, and B.M.W. fLefevrej junior Cheryl Bellows gets into her car on her way to her part-time job at Paradise Bakery. fOliverj Cars-Student Life 1 17

Page 23 text:

n order to get a parking space, ju- G G1 l l5?f......5i2, We Y' Entering the fast lane p 1. ...f null- 'S 'V' Sweaty hands gripping the steering wheel and butterflies in her stomach are what senior Sharon Lodge remembers most about her driver's test. On her first attempt, in May of 1982, she hit a parked van. I've never been so embarrassed in my life, Sharon said of that first mishap. The se- cond time around, her license plates had expired and she wasn't allowed to take the test. But, giving it that old high school try, she went back a third time and finally passed. Though we didn't all have 4 ' experiences like Sharon's, most of us can remember something about the day we took the driver's test. Even so, many students regard- ed their driver's license as a ticket to freedom. They were now able to drive to work and school. Iunior Ieff Miller didn't pass until his se- cond try, but even then he had a few problems. He made a wrong signal, drove in the wrong lane for a few seconds, and almost ran over his inspector as the officer walked in front of the car. In regard to his present driving skills, Jeff said, I'm a good driver when I want to be. Though most people got their license when they turned 16, many jumped the gun and got a hardship license. This is a special license designed for those fifteen- year-olds who claimed that they had no alternative method of transportation to school or work. But, in fact, most people just liked the idea of driving a year early. We all looked forward to getting our driver's licenses. And, though it was a nerve-racking experience for many of us, it was worth it to gain one more step towards in- dependence. CLochridgeJ Driver's Education students work on uestions from their rulebooks. ?DinwiddieD Many students, such as these, rely on getting their licenses so that they can drive to school. fDinwiddieJ Driver's License - Student Life I 19