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The Night I Was Lost

     When I was sixteen when I got lost on the outskirts of Des Moines. It was supposed to be a quick drive just a simple errand to pick up a friend from a party. But as I merged onto what I thought was the right highway, a sinking feeling settled in my stomach. The streetlights cast long shadows, and the buildings outside my window became unfamiliar. Then i had come to realize I was lost.

At first, I tried to play it cool. I told myself to follow the road signs, but the more I drove, the more lost I became. My GPS was not cooperating, freezing at the worst possible times. My phone’s battery was at a dangerous 5%, and I started to panic. I pulled into a lit gas station, hoping to ask for directions. Inside, a cashier barely older than me gave instructions that only confused me more. I stepped back into the cold night air, realizing I had two options: drive aimlessly or take a deep breath and figure it out.

I remembered my dad’s advice about using landmarks, so I retraced my path until I spotted a familiar fast-food sign. From there, I managed to reconnect with the right road. It was very exhausting, but when I finally reached my destination, the relief was overwhelming.

Looking back at that night it taught me more than just basic navigation skills. It forced me to stay calm under pressure, trust my instincts, and problem solve when technology wasn't working. Getting lost had been frustrating and even a little scary, but it ended up being an experience that sharpened my independence. Now, whenever I take a wrong turn, I don’t panic I just find another way.

Comments

  1. Keith JuengerMarch 27, 2025 at 7:45 AM

    I'm glad that you found your way back and taking your dads advice about using the landmarks to find your way to the correct road which led you back home.

    ReplyDelete

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