Becoming Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable by Katie

Becoming Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable by Katie - July 2021 Scholarship Essay

At a young age, I was always scared of reaching out and coming out of the bubble I sheltered myself in. My anxiety and fear of being judged caused me to be more reserved when it came to interacting with people. However, when I joined varsity lacrosse through Bridge Lacrosse, one of the biggest takeaways I received was the cruciality of being vulnerable. In fact, one of my coaches, Coach Maddie told us something similar, which has stuck with me since then: allow yourself to be uncomfortable and grow from it.
Before getting acquainted with Bridge Lacrosse, I was nervous to try a sport that was new and unfamiliar to me. There was discomfort in not knowing the rules of the game, how to cradle a ball, or even to pick up a ground ball. Over time, I was able to learn to do these things, but only by allowing myself to get out of the bubble I held so dearly to myself. Asking for help was something I was not very good at, but began to do more frequently while being a part of Bridge, so that I could become a better player. Being with Bridge has been a comfortable, uncomfortable situation. While there were things I had to do that I was not comfortable with, like playing certain positions or taking constructive criticism, I learned to make adjustments that not only benefited me, but the team. It was also with the support of my coaches and team that made every “uncomfortable experience”, comfortable. Bridge has guided me in a lot of self growth, but has also granted me possibilities that I could never imagine.
The summer before sophomore year, I was lucky enough to receive an opportunity to attend Strive Sports Challenge, a leadership camp, with Bridge Lacrosse’s help. Given the chance to travel out of state, I was met with the challenge of going somewhere unfamiliar and meeting new people from around the US. It was mentally tough being away from home and not knowing what to expect, but I was driven to make the most and grow from the trip. This camp was one of the most influential times I had to be vulnerable, but it was because of this that I got to meet new people, experience criticism from other coaches, and be surrounded by a whole new atmosphere; which I got to experience because of Bridge Lacrosse.
There has truly been so much that Bridge Lacrosse has taught and offered me, but the most significant will always be to make myself vulnerable. Getting out of my comfort zone can be hard, but there are always lessons and positive experiences that I reap from it. If it weren’t for Bridge and the way that all of the Bridge family has encouraged me and given me so many learning opportunities, I would still be in that little bubble I kept myself in.