Utah by John

Utah by John - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

My new years resolution this year has been to take risks. I have always been calm, collected and careful, this year I want to step out of my comfort zone. I think this will help me to become a better student because all success requires risk. To achieve and to be better than you were the day before requires risk. The thrill of the unknown, that feeling of discovering a new frontier, it's unmatched in nature. With risk comes potential for incredible rewards, it also comes with the potential for failure. The truth is, however, that failure isn't. Failure is necessary in life, it makes us all stronger, wiser and teaches valuable lessons. The story of Thomas Edison comes to mind, his litany of failures ultimately led to the light bulb. In the shining light of his success all his failures were shown for what they really were. Lessons experience, strength of character and resolve. All it takes is that one real victory to make a lifetime of defeat worth it. Achieving in life and in school is accompanied by risk. I am not speaking of being reckless, though sometimes to the untrained or sedentary eye you might appear reckless. I am talking about the feeling in your chest when facing a whole new world. Whether it's tackling a harder subject or program in school you never thought possible. Or if it's moving across the world for a whole new job and experience. Risk is as necessary ad breathing, and in many ways just as rewarding. To quote a favorite character of mine, "If you always do what you always done, you'll always get what you always got." Life is long and the only person you're assured to spend your life with is you, so why be boring? Why be frightened? Part of pursuing a better life is taking a chance. That is why I resolve for 2016 to be my year of risk.