Thinking Outside the Box by Megan

Thinking Outside the Box by Megan - October 2018 Scholarship Essay

To me, the phrase “thinking outside the box” means being able to go past your comfort zone. When you think “in your box”, you are thinking of things that are comfortable to you and that you think about often. It is difficult for some to think outside the box because most people like to stay within their boundaries where they know it is safe. It is scary for some people to think and do things outside their comfort zone because they don’t want to make mistakes.

Throughout my life, I have been told countless times to think outside the box and to be creative. What people don’t realize is this was a struggle for me. It was difficult for me to come up with original ideas. I like to have everything organized, laid out, planned, in a list, etc, after the idea has been come up with. I can easily and happily lead, plan, and organize anything that anyone asks me to, but right when someone tells me to come up with original ideas and think outside the box, it doesn’t work. I ended up getting very frustrated because everything I come up with is not original or creative. It always has been a struggle on the creative side of my brain.

Now, I am a senior in high school and thinking outside the box has a different meaning to me. Now it means, I just need to push myself a little harder and go outside my comfort zone. It doesn’t give me the same frustration anymore because whenever I hear it, I have a completely different mindset.

To all the folks out there who have a similar story to my own, I want to share my advice. Don’t be afraid of this phrase, thinking outside the box, instead embrace it in the way that you can. Don’t think of what it means to other people, find what it means to you and use it as your own.