Back when we were bright-eyes and eager teens, we at SparkNotes had to go through all the joys and frustrations that come with getting your first driver’s license. Here are our stories:

You know that old saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, keep trying, try, try, try (man this is taking forever), try, try...again." Well, that might be slightly different than the old saying, but we had to adjust it for this really determined lady who finally, FINALLY, after 950 tries, passed the driver's license test.

But, just as your third grade teacher (you know, the one who smelled like donuts) always told you, every mistake is an opportunity to learn something. For every time she failed the test, this lady learned something, which means she now knows all there is to know about driving. So we contacted her via our psychic network and she agreed to share her lessons learned with us. Don't thank her now—thank her later, when you pass your driver's test on the first try!

It doesn’t take long—30, 40 minutes?—after you finally get your first car to realize a universal sonic truth: some music just sounds better when you’re behind the wheel. Doesn’t matter if you’re boasting a fancypants sound system in your Rolls or rattling factory speakers and a generic CD player in your used 1989 Honda Accord. Certain songs will still make you want to take the scenic route to school in the morning, or the long way home from the mall.

Summer is particularly well suited to rolling the windows down and sharing your musical tastes with everyone around you at a red light. Sure, the other drivers may look annoyed, but trust me, they’re just trying to make out the lyrics to your favorite scream-o anthem. Do them a favor and turn it up.

Sparkler thelionking has some creative ideas about how to pass time while you're waiting for your life to start (aka when you finally get your license.) Enjoy! —SparkNotes Editors

Ah, summer.  That wondrous time of year when the birds are singing, school is out, and everybody has their freakin’ driver’s license but you.

You are still languishing in the passenger seat of mom’s Volvo, which, contrary to Stephenie Meyer’s beliefs, is not sexy or cool in any way. But the lameness of the station wagon isn’t the worst part. The worst part of not being able to drive is waiting.

We know you've been practicing in the mirror—don't even try to deny it. You're trying to get that perfect blend of "Ohmygod I just got my driver's license" excitement and "But I'm also sorta cool" chill. Well, forget about beaming from ear-to-ear, or even a tiny bit of teeth, cause it's not allowed.

Some states are now using face-recognition software to prevent identity theft and other such crimes, but it seems the software has a smile glitch. So toothy grins are no longer an option, even if this is like, the third time you've taken the test and finally passed and are just about to explode with happiness! Nope. Neutral expression please. But the entire driver's ed experience doesn't have to be a downer. We've come up with some ways to keep the process fun. But, we must provide this note: Please, PLEASE, do not do anything to put yourself in danger.  That said, let's hit the road:

The road is filled with a wide variety of drivers, from motivated soccer moms to Bluetooth-enabled businessmen who think "yield" means "cut off." But teen drivers are a subset that can be dived into ten unique categories. Which type of driver are you?

1. The Leaner – Some drivers feel the need to lean to one side of the car while driving. Perhaps they think this looks cool and relaxed. Or perhaps a ghost is whispering to them from the passenger side. Whatever the reason, they have a lifetime of neck and back pain to look forward to. Some Leaners are also part of the sub-subcategory dubbed The Shirtless Wonders.

Unless you have the chance to take your car into a snowboard park, driving in the winter kinda sucks. You have to deal with dead batteries, butt-freezing seats, and slippery conditions that can turn a trip to the store into an impromptu meeting with your neighbor’s shrubbery. But if you don’t live near public transportation (or in one of those states where residents rock flip-flops on Christmas), you’ve got to either put up with these automotive annoyances or stay home.

Of course, you can make things easier on yourself by choosing a car that makes your winter excursions a little less painful. Here are some options:

Yeti Monster Truck
Sure, Mercedes-Benz's Unimog is cool, but it looks downright wimpy compared to the Yeti Monster Truck, a pickup rolling on 76-inch tractor wheels. This is human ingenuity at its best, folks.

More winter driving options after the jump.