SouthFlorida.com | Teen Link South Florida

The party started at 8 p.m. and your parents aren't home.

Your friends have already arrived, and all you're doing is sitting home, twiddling your thumbs in front of Facebook, with nobody to talk to.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Today, with car keys and a driver's license in hand, any teen in South Florida older than 16 can drive himself to school, friends' houses and parties between restricted hours.

Students should be proud the government has given them independence at such a young age. In New Jersey, one must wait until age 17 to have a driver's license.

On my 16th birthday, my parents asked me what did I most want to have, and do you know what my answer was? A driver's license!

I couldn't wait to be free on the road, driving and getting to places on my own. The thrill of speeding down the road, and the freedom of taking my life into my own hands is what I most wanted to experience.

I wanted the opportunity of having real responsibility and being allowed to choose how to spend my time.

Today, as long as I inform my parents where I will be, and I don't drink or do anything crazy, I can stay out as late as I want. Instead of relying on my parents for transportation from a friend's house at 11 p.m., now they can rest assured I'll have a safe ride home.

Driving is more than just a privilege. It has become my right and obligation to take to the road and journey to places I have never been.

I used to be limited to riding my bicycle in Coral Springs or walking to the nearby shopping plaza. Now I can travel to Naples, the Keys or even Tampa, all by myself.

With a license and a car, I have the opportunity to see my friends when I want and where I want without being chauffeured.

Not only do I see different places, I am also able to meet more people and relax when driving. I love cool windy days when I have my radio blasting and my windows down, cruising to a restaurant or a friend's house.

These moments are what matter. As I approach adulthood, I feel it is important to take on more responsibility. Driving should be seen as an opportunity to expand one's life, rather than an obstacle to fear.

Driving is that first big step to independence, showing you are maturing, responsible and growing up. Driving offers you alternatives and new opportunities.

On some days, driving may feel like a chore. However, the good memories of spending time with your family and friends on road trips, sporting events or everyday travels makes driving worth it at the end of the day.