Great Finance Stories

It is Paola's second day with her driving instructor today. She looks different today compared to the way she looked yesterday. She was full of excitement and enthusiasm yesterday morning before she started her driving lesson. I can tell there is something wrong and so I approached her before her instructor arrives.

"How are you Paola? How was the driving lesson yesterday?"

She moped her face and said "not good..."

"What happened?", I asked her.

"The instructor got upset because I made a huge mistake in the round about. I accidentally pressed the horn while steering the wheel. It made me panicked and the other drivers in the roundabout.", Paola explained.

"But that was just your first day of driving lesson. Your instructor must be understanding and patient with you. I cannot believe he reacted that way", I said.

I do not like it when young kids are feel discouraged to do something that they need to do. Paola, at 16, is very vulnerable. She can easily get discouraged. Her low self-esteem can get really affected by negative remarks or gestures from her instructor.

I remember how everything was with me when I was as young as Paola. My self-esteem was really pushed down with all negative remarks from other people as well as bullying in school. Those experiences have affected my self confidence. As an adult I can say that those experiences somehow contributed to my personality and being.

I waited until Paola's instructor arrived. I promised to myself that yesterday's experience will be erased in Paola's mind for today's driving lesson. I want her to feel good about herself. Paola's parents are working six days in a week. I feel that I have the responsibility as her auntie to look after her.

A white car parked in front of us. A middle aged man stepped out of the car and approached us with a smile. Without me saying a single word to him, he directly went to Paola about what happened yesterday and that he said that he should have not reacted that way. That gesture put a big and beautiful smile on Paola's face. They both got into the car and started the driving lesson.

Later that day, Paola went into my house to see me and told me stories about her driving lesson. She is confident that she will be ready after the completion of the required driving hours to take the driving practice test.

The apology and kind gestures by the driving instructor have saved Paola's day.