My son is 15 years old, and he is learning how to drive. Yes, I bought those car magnets that say, “Student Driver Please Be Patient.”
He was driving in a parking lot and said that what he learned in his driver’s education class was a good start but didn’t fully prepare him to be behind the wheel and driving.
I agree that learning in a classroom or from a book is very different from doing something in real life.
It reminded me of when I started my career in HR and found that the best place for my skills and interests was in Compensation.
I took the WorldatWork classes. (It was called the American Compensation Association back then.) I got the certifications and slowly got the relevant work experience to go along with the credentials.
And I learned so much from the people I worked with. Applying what you learn in a classroom and learning what really works and what doesn’t is incredibly important.
When I make a pay recommendation for an employee, I put more emphasis on their relevant work experience, skills, and capabilities than I do on their education and training. And show me how you applied what you have learned and your results.
This afternoon I will try to control my gasps from the passenger seat when I sit next to Ben as he learns to drive. It was only five years ago that I was teaching his sister how to do this. I remember her irritation at my gasps and feedback. He is irritated too.
Ben needs 50 hours by next July to get his license. Getting 1 – 2 hours a week of driving practice is our goal. Now if only I could find a time when Denver traffic wasn’t horrible.
And as I reflect on my own learning how to drive experience, I am grateful for learning how to drive on country roads and in a small Kansas town.
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