"Don't Let Fear Consume You" by Aaliyah

"Don't Let Fear Consume You" by Aaliyah - March 2019 Scholarship Essay

Coming in as a freshman, I remember being nervous and afraid. I had to learn how to transition to a new school, and being surrounded by people who seemingly already grasped the works of high school, made it that more overwhelming. I wish I had someone to help guide me though high school and teach me some of the self-learned lessons I have retained throughout the years. I am sure for these new incoming freshmen, they are probably feeling the same way. Coming in, you already have this predetermined mindset on high school, which is the upper-classmen are on top and the rest are on the bottom. That made me not want to try new things, and it also made me feel like clubs and extracurriculars are for the upperclassmen to build their college resumes. In all reality, freshman year is the time to explore and figure out what interests you. It is the time to join in on extracurricular activities in order to find the best fit for you. After all, it is only the beginning and the beginning is the time to change your mind and change it again. You will soon realize that if you find things you are passionate about now, it makes going through the rest of your academic career a lot easier. They will serve as stress-relievers and healthy distractions. If someone had pushed me to get more involved in clubs and extra activities, I would not be filled with any regret today. Being a senior now and looking back at my 4-year journey, there are a lot of things I wish I would have partaken in. For example, my junior year I decided to join my high school performance of Hairspray. I found that I actually liked being on stage, even if it was just part of the color ensemble and it made me wish that I got more involved in theatre. If I had to share the most important lesson I have learned, it is to not let fear dictate your actions, or stop you from stepping out of your comfort zone. It will allow you to learn a lot about yourself, in terms of your likes and dislikes. It will also allow you to find people will similar interests as you, which in time helps build connections and relationships. Do not let the fear of what people think or the fact that you don’t know anyone stop you from trying things that are outside of the box.