Categories: uncategorized
Date: 11 January 2008 00:55:57
OK, I''m back. Christmas, New Year and other procastinatory (is that a word?) distractions are now out of the way, so I continue with my 7 year journal.
So, where was I? Oh yes, I'd just passed the ADI Part 1 exam for the second time.
I really enjoyed my work with Rentokil. I had my own "patch" that I was responsible for. I knew all my customers, and by managing my own patch, I learned the skill of time management that was to be vital in what was coming next.
I was still determined to qualify as a Driving Instructor. In March I took and passed Part 2 of the qualifying process. This entitled me to "go on the pink", which means being granted a "pink badge" which is a temporary Trainee Licence entitling the holder to work as an instructor while preparing for the final exam.
Initially, I carried on with my regular job and worked as an instructor in the evenings and at weekends, but as I gradually gained more customers, I gave up the Pest Control and started full time as an Instructor.
This was the best job I'd ever had. I knew it was what I wanted to do, but had never imagined I would enjoy it as much as I did. I remember the total ecstacy the first time one of my pupils passed her test (admittedly on her second attempt) Later on, I had a "first timer" pass. He was one who was partially trained when he came to me, having previously had lessons with another instructor. Then came the best of the lot. A pupil who had started with me from scratch, never having sat behind the wheel of a car, took and passed her test at the first attempt. I can't describe how good that felt.
However, I was only on a temporary licence. To get the full "Green Badge" I had to take Part 3, which is a Role Play test with a middle aged Senior Examiner pretending to be a clueless pupil. You are only allowed 3 attempts at the test, otherwise you have to go right back to the beginning.
My first attempt was in October. I chose a Test Centre I'm not terribly familiar with, simply because it's fairly close to where I live. My heart sank when the Examiner walked into the waiting room and was the one who had failed me on my first two attempts at Part 2 the previous time around.
I didn't pass. I didn't deserve to pass. I was totally unprepared and this was the experience that taught me that doing role play for a test is nothing like teaching people in the real world.
6 weeks later I did the test again. I had the same bloody examiner. My performance was better this time, but still not good enough.
The DSA had granted me a 6 month extension on my licence, so I wasn't in a hurry to sit the exam again too soon, so I booked my next one for February. I'd used up two of my lives, so I had time to prepare fully for my next attempt, and least I knew I'd be working at Christmas.
I consoled myself that I had an excellent pas rate with my pupils, but I knew that with only one attempt left, I was on a knife edge.