An Untimely Accident

           One of the worst experiences of my life was when I got into a car accident driving to my first day of student teaching last year. I student taught at an elementary school in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The school was approximately twenty minutes from my apartment in Providence, Rhode Island. When I was about ten blocks from the school, my 2002 Toyota Camry was struck on the passenger side by a tow truck backing out of a side street. The impact forced my car head on into oncoming traffic. The air bags deployed, and I sat stunned in my now totaled car. Luckily, I was not hurt other than a few bruises. The driver of the car I hit head on was also not injured.

            I was nervous to begin student teaching, and this accident tripled the nervousness I initially felt when I left my apartment that morning. My first thought when I realized what had happened was that I was going to be late for my first day. That was not the first impression I wanted to make on my cooperating teacher or my new students. I immediately called the school and hastily explained that I had been in an accident and would try to get to the school as quickly as possible. The police and firemen arrived at the scene of the accident, and the tow truck driver, the driver of the car I hit, and I explained our respective stories to the police. The manager of the towing company of the tow truck that had struck my car came to scene and offered to tow my totaled car to his garage.  I insisted that he also drive me to the elementary school since I was now late for my first day of teaching. I hopped in his truck and arrived at the school a half hour late.

            Although this was one of my worst experiences, I feel that it was also a growing experience. I could have collapsed at the scene of the accident and went back to my apartment. Instead, I made the best of a bad situation and made it to my first day of student teaching. I believe that this was a good decision because meeting my students and beginning to work with them helped to distract me from the shock I felt after the accident. Continuing with my day in as normal a fashion as possible allowed me to stay calm and think rationally about the terrible accident I had just experienced. I was also fortunate that my father drove all the way from Long Island to pick me up in Pawtucket and deal with the towing company. This accident was a learning experience, but it is not an experience I would wish anyone else to have on their first day of student teaching. 

Vocabulary

approximately (adverb)- not exact

impact (noun)- force of one object hitting another

deployed (verb)- to release

tripled (verb)- to increase or make greater

tow truck (noun)- a truck used to pick up damaged vehicles

collapsed (verb)- to break down, fall apart

rationally (adverb)- having reason or good sense

Vocabulary Exercise

Please fill in the blank with the appropriate vocabulary word.

The table ________________________ when the large dog jumped on it.

When the tree branch fell on my car, a ________________________ came to take it to the repair shop.

Sabrina’s parents will come home at ________________________ ten o’clock.

The extension on the house __________________ its size.

You should _________________________ consider your choices when deciding which college to attend.

The _____________________ when the lightning struck the tree was loud and very bright.

The parachute _____________________ when the sky divers were close to the ground.

Grammar Point

A proper noun is a noun that is an actual name, such as of a person, place, or organization. The first letter of a proper noun is capitalized, such as in Pawtucket.

Practice identifying proper nouns:

http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/grammar/proper_noun/quiz223.html