Off the Beaten Path by Brooke

Off the Beaten Path by Brooke - October 2018 Scholarship Essay

Growing up, I was always told to be different. "Don't follow the beaten path," my parents would tell me. "Be original, and do something no one else is." This advice was easier heard then done, and I often fell in the shadows of my friends and brother, just following what they did. Whether it was school related or not, I often looked at what they did to mimic.
Throughout the years, they began to participate in activities I had no interest in. They tried out for new sports, hung out with new people, and left the security blanket of our childhood. At this period, I began to become my own person and started to think for myself.
I did what I wanted to do without following anyone's footsteps. I stepped out of my comfort zone, tried out for cheerleading, made a new group of friends, and finally found what made me happy. I realized I did not have to walk on the same path as everyone else to fit in, and my parents' advice started to make sense.
To me, "thinking outside of the box" is not necessarily coming up with a new approach or idea to a plan. Yes, it can mean that sometimes, but it is more about thinking outside of the comfort of what you have known or are accustomed to. Thinking about ways to step out of the norm of what you have known to make yourself happy is what life is about because if you do not find new things to do, see, or learn, you will follow in the footsteps of everyone else. Taking risks in life will bring change, challenges, and a new perspective that leads to thinking outside of the box or societal norms.