For a long time, I was tired of being on the back of everyone else’s bike. I loved riding, but I got frustrated always having to ask for a lift. I wanted control, I wanted to ride for myself. So I said, “You know what? I’ll do it myself.”

During COVID, I took riding lessons and, well… things didn’t exactly start smoothly. On my road test, I accidentally popped a wheelie. I let the clutch out too fast, the bike went one way, I went another, and I ended up breaking my wrist in three places. It wasn’t exactly the debut I imagined, but I didn’t let it stop me. Once my hand healed, I went back, did it right, and finally earned my license.

Since then, I’ve taken my riding seriously, not just for fun but for safety too. I’m an instructor for Accident Scene Management, teaching classes for groups about what to do if you’re involved in a motorcycle accident. Understanding how crashes happen, the different mechanisms of injury, and how to respond has completely changed the way I ride. I’m more aware, more conscientious, and I know the risks I take every time I hit the road.

But here’s the thing — the risk is worth it. Riding a motorcycle is absolutely amazing. There’s nothing like the freedom of being out there on your own, feeling the road beneath you, the wind in your face, and knowing that every twist and turn is yours to navigate. Learning to ride on my own terms was the best decision I ever made, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.