Should I try this? Should I try that?
Freshman year I tried out for the volleyball team at Skyline. I barely knew what I was doing. But I figured that the worst that could happen is rejection. I showed up and did my best. I ended up going on to play for the next three years, making it to Skyline’s varsity team and my club’s national travel team. I also gained strength, and learned how to maintain my energy as a type 1 diabetic.
Freshman year in orchestra, I auditioned for concert level. During the audition, I sounded kind of wonky due to nerves, and I didn’t think I would be picked. I did end up making concert, and I tried out again sophomore year and made symphony. Now, performing in front of an audience, as a musician or speaker, is no big deal. Joining symphony also led to me going on the orchestra Spain trip sophomore year. I had never traveled out of the country or managed my diabetes completely on my own before. I was able to have an awesome vacation and I did a good job maintaining my health, becoming more independent than ever.
Everytime I have tried something new, I not only succeeded but also discovered new skills and activities I will enjoy well after high school. I also discovered some of my faults, I’m my worst critic. Time and time again, I was more capable than I thought.
Now I know to ignore the doubts in my mind and take the risk. When trying new things and overcoming your fears you gain confidence and skills. The new experiences will also give you more resilience, making the next challenge less intimidating.
Trying things will change your life. You become aware of where you need to improve and where your strengths are. With what you learn and deliberate effort you can refine yourself. Also because you took the chance, you won’t look back with regret, dreaming of what could’ve been.
When asking yourself “Should I try this? Should I try that?” the answer is always yes. Don’t let your doubts stop you from taking a chance on yourself. You deserve the opportunity to put yourself out there. Embrace learning from the experience, even if the end result is rejection. You must be proactive in your life, if you want to expand your horizons and create wonderful experiences. Trying new things is essential to your well being.
