Stepping Out of My Room by Brianne

Stepping Out of My Room by Brianne - October 2018 Scholarship Essay

The phrase, thinking outside of the box, is most often used in reference to an original thinker who comes up with a new way to look at or do something. It brings to mind an image of someone stepping outside of the confines of a cardboard box. The phrase can also have a personal application that differs among individuals. For me, thinking outside of the box means going outside of my comfort zone. Instead of the visual of a cardboard box, I picture the square dimensions of my room, my ultimate comfort zone.
My comfort zone has developed over seventeen years of hard construction. It started at a young age. I remember the first day I started keeping my interests safely guarded in my comfort zone. In second grade I had a red, High School Musical backpack. On the front, it had the iconic scene of the main characters jumping up in the air in front of red curtains. I thought this was the coolest backpack ever. It featured Troy Bolton, the love of my life. But one of the boys in my class didn’t appreciate it as much as I did. He teased me about my backpack, and from then on I became self-conscious about the things I liked. In my room I can read whatever book I want; I can geek out over stand-up comedy without any judgment from anyone; I can be confident in myself. The privacy of my room symbolizes the comfort zone I desire. It protects me from anything that seems uncomfortable. It is a safe zone where I won’t feel embarrassed, out-of-place, or nervous.
The downside of the safe haven of my comfort zone is that there is no progress in it. If I stay in my room all day, what am I doing to better myself or the people around me? Absolutely nothing. Abraham Maslow said, “If you plan on being anything less than you are capable of being, you will probably be unhappy all the days of your life.” This is my guiding quote. I know if I don’t try new things that scare me, I’ll never reach my fullest potential. I don’t want to be unhappy the rest of my life, stuck inside my room. I want to make an impact on the world.
Being brave enough to try new things can be difficult, which is why it requires a different attitude. Thinking outside of the box is a complete change of mindset. I have to teach myself to say “yes” instead of “no” when there’s an opportunity to do something that scares me. I have to think outside the confines of my room. There’s a world outside I cannot wait to explore, and that is why I choose to think outside the box.