Mastering Fear

One of the memories that has defined me more than anything else happened when I was a child. I was only five at the time, and wasn’t even aware that something like this could happen. It happened so fast, I had no time to think. Before I knew it there was a 2 by 4 through the windshield of the car. My first and only major car accident has really defined who I am today.
Knowing me now, you would never think that I had a traumatic car accident as a child. I’m a member of the Sports Car Club of America, I race my cars at the track, and I auto cross and spend most of my time either working on or driving my VW and Maserati. That moment when the 16 year old girl slammed into the back of my father’s Taurus wagon and threw the lumber we were carrying into the windshield really made me think about how people drive. I thought about this and studied it in order to improve my own driving ability. When the time came, I learned to drive as soon as possible. I might drive a bit fast but I’m always safe. I know the limits of my car, I know how it reacts, I know every subtle nuance of its suspension and its brakes. I always pay attention to what is going on around me. Since then I’ve not been in a single accident. I plan to keep it that way.
Its odd thinking that something tragic, such as a car accident, would turn someone into an avid car enthusiast. I chose to take my fear and morph it into my strength. This truly defines who I am today.

Kyle Geideman
Section 014