I came to driving late in life—or, at least, later than any of my friends. My excuse was always: I’ve only lived in cities! I walk everywhere! I love my bike and public transport! But the truth is that driving intimidated me. Watching other people do it was nerve-wracking enough. Why do it myself?

But my parents eventually insisted, and I enrolled in driving school. I alternated between two instructors, both named Boris. After two years of lessons, near-collisions, yelling in Russian, and two failed tests, I successfully parallel-parked, backed up, and three-point turned. As of August, I’m licensed to drive, but I still sometimes forget that I no longer have a student driver sign on my car.

In this week’s cover article, Sophie Dillon, DC ’17, takes us back to driving school. Her profile of her driving instructor will resonate with anyone who has struggled with wide right turns or cried over a failed DMV test. And it’s really good writing.

Driving is one of the most significant cultural markers of time passing in our lives. But other writers ask us to understand what happens with the passage of time, too. Read “The Dead Shall Be Raised,” an essay by Clara Olshansky, MC ’18, in Culture. Elsewhere, for straight fun, check out the interview with the artist behind “Who Let the Dogs Out” in Voices.

Finally, read the brave piece in our Opinion pages. Diana Orozco, ES ’16, speaks out about her sexual assault. She hopes that others will share their stories to improve the sexual climate on our campus.

So read it, think about it, and talk about it. Keep this conversation going.

All my love,

 Sophie Haigney

Voices Editor