The begging and pleading for a ride in high school is a common question among students. Most teens at our school do not have cars, but there are a lucky few. Cars are generally expensive and leave you at an advantage point regarding where one can and cannot go. Having this privilege can potentially affect the weight of a name in school.

The ability to get from point A to point B by car means a lot in school, maybe even enough to boost your social status. A lot of high schoolers are involved in UIL clubs or sports and need to be here and there in a timely manner for practices or events. Some students also have parents or guardians that work late, causing them to have to stay and wait hours for a ride.

“When I first started driving, I still remember that burst of freedom that seemed to devour me. Although at the time I had just turned sixteen, in my mind I had just taken a major step into adulthood,” senior Robert Frost said. “Driving for me has always played a big role on whether or not I stay on the swim team or if I even attend Texas High.”

Robert Frost is a senior Texas High Tiger Shark that lives in Atlanta, Texas. The swim team’s practice starts at 6:15 a.m. every morning, forcing Frost to wake up at 4:50 a.m. in order to make it there on time.

“Before I had a car, getting back and forth to practice seemed nearly impossible to keep up with. However, my coach knew a swimmer that lived in the [same] general area as me, and they gave me a ride to swim every morning. Eventually, [she and I] became very close friends,” Frost said.

Knowing that driving obviously does improve one’s social life, driving, like most abilities, has its pros and cons. One of the pros being that it can also help people get out and about to become apart of new social groups and to explore their surroundings.

“Driving definitely helps me get out there more. I was able to join in more group functions. Not always needing a ride, I was able to join more friend groups but sometimes I slightly notice people bandwagoning or trying to be my fake friend just for a ride,” Frost said.

Whenever a person is leeching off of someone for just a ride, one’s personality is shown in all its true colors. Usually the colors that shine off someone that is bandwagoning or using someone, do not shine brightly.

“Seniors and upperclassmen that gave me and my friends rides from here to there really showed us that they cared and had our backs when we were stuck,” Frost said. “So, I do definitely think driving [has an] affect your social status, you just can’t let it get to your head.”