fohtvuub's journey

I recently graduated from college and have been applying for jobs, but I've hit a frustrating hurdle. Many positions I'm interested in list a driver's license as a requirement. Unfortunately, I don't have a full license or a car; I only have a permit. This has led to several rejections after I've been asked if I can drive. I understand that driving is common, but if the job doesn't require it and I can reliably get to work on time, I don't see why it should matter. I know that a car can break down and cause issues too. I'm currently working on getting my license, but due to my disabilities, the process is taking longer than I'd hoped. I'm located in the U.S., so I'm not sure if this is a widespread issue.

I recently had an interview for a position and they requested that I fill out another application with three references. The challenge is that I haven't worked for the past two years and, although I just graduated from college, I wasn't particularly close with my professors. I only reached out to them when I had questions about assignments. I even asked my college advisor to be a reference, but she declined because she didn't feel she knew enough about my work ethic. Now I'm feeling confused about what to do next regarding references. I'm considering reaching out to an old high school teacher or maybe a mentor, but I'm unsure if they'll remember me well enough to provide a positive reference. I'm also thinking about using a strategy where I tell them I used my references recently for another job and they all inquired about my application status, which made me hesitant to provide them again. Any advice would be appreciated!