To have a restricted license in the state of Kansas, the recipients must be 15 years of age and needs to have held a Kansas learner’s permit for at least a year.  A restricted license allows a young driver to transport themselves to and from school, school-related activities and a job.

As a 14-year-old, transporting myself is impossible.

When my father was deployed or on temporary duty, finding a way to work around my mother’s schedule and my own is difficult. When my father is gone, my mother is the only adult available to drive. During volleyball season, finding a way home from games was difficult.

To make things even tougher, sometimes the things I have to do and the things I want to do are in competition with each other.

There have been plenty of times when my father was gone for work and my mother had to be to work early. I had to take my brother to school. Getting myself — and a cranky 8 year old — ready before 7:30 a.m. is really hard.

Finding a way to balance what I need to get done, what I want, stress, school, volleyball and being an older sibling can be hard when I can’t go somewhere quiet to think.

Even though it has been hard for me to get things done, I have somehow managed. When I finally do get my restricted license, running around will be much easier.

When my father is deployed, taking care of my family will be much easier.