Facing Your Fears 101 by Karalyn

Facing Your Fears 101 by Karalyn - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

I used to be terrified of roller coasters. There is always that one person who stands there, amidst the blood-curdling screams and jovial laughter, waiting for their friends to exit the ride. For a long time, that was me, wishing I were brave. I’m glad to report that I’m no longer a watcher. Last week I went to Six Flags and rode every coaster we had time for, and loved every minute of it. My love of roller coasters didn’t come from a teacher. However, what I did learn from a teacher is that you can reap endless benefits from doing the things that scare you most.

I first picked up a flute when I was in the fifth grade. It only took one lesson for me to know that it was the instrument for me. Since then, the love for the instrument and for performing music has grown, and I’ve been given opportunities that I never would have guessed would come from being a band geek. Also as a result of being geeky, I’ve learned important life lessons. Every year of high school, my band director encouraged me to perform solos in Solo & Ensemble festivals. I was terrified of playing in front of people by myself. It was not an activity I wanted to partake in. No sir. Playing with the whole band in an auditorium full of people? Fine and good. Playing by myself in front of less than 15 people? Not so fine and good. I know that to a lot of people, this sounds pretty lame. Why should I be scared to do something so seemingly simple? I don’t think I’ll ever know why. Despite my fear, my band director never gave up on trying to get me to break out of my shell. He continued to encourage me and made me realize that doing something that scares me, like playing a flute solo, can bring me confidence, joy, and a sense of self-accomplishment. I try to remember this whenever I am scared to do something. Especially when I know I will be glad I did it.

I’m still conquering some fears, and I still get scared before playing a solo. My hands shake, my knees tremble, and my heart races. But after realizing that facing my fears is incredibly important, I enjoy performing more than ever.

I also am now a self-proclaimed roller coaster junkie.