Still in the student stage, about 43 hours, but learning every day.
Flying solo circuits at Van Nuys in LA, Rwy16L, hot day about 34c, and Cherokee was flying differently than I was used to because of the high density alt. Not getting the usual altitude at departure to crosswind turn.
Late in the afternoon, had worked that day and was probably tired enough that I shouldn't have been flying, combined with about 45c temp in the plane, sweating my a** off, and dealing with the turbulence.
Listening to the tower, but wasn't paying very good attention to anything that didn't start with "Cherokee XXX" Did hear some mumblings about a Cessna transiting north to south, between the interstate (which is what you fly over when you're downwind in the pattern) and the airport. Just taken off from a T&G and still climbing on departure leg, heard ATC giving Cessna XXX a traffic advisories of a Cherrokee at 12 o'clock. Didn't dawn on me that Cherokee at 12o'clock to the Cessna meant Cessna at 6 o'clock to the Cherokee.
Up almost to TPA, turn crosswind and look out the left side, to see the Cessna not that far away, like if I didn't climb some more and he didn't lose altitude, it wouldn't be pretty.
I did, he did, and I got the you know what scared out of me, as well as I suppose the Cessna driver. Made a particularly bad landing, and "slunk" back to the fbo, legs shaking so hard I had a hard time with steering and the brakes, and feeling really, really stupid. Learned several things.
1. Dont' fly when you're tired, even circuits.
2. ALWAYS PAY ATTENTON TO THE RADIO. Especially in the pattern.
3. If you are at someone's 12, he's at your six. Think about that before you change direction.