The Ones Born To Think Outside The Box by Shalen

The Ones Born To Think Outside The Box by Shalen - October 2018 Scholarship Essay

The Cambridge dictionary defines the phrase, “thinking outside the box” as, “to think imaginatively using new ideas instead of traditional or expected ideas”. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as, “to explore ideas that are creative and unusual and that are not limited or controlled by rules or tradition”. I believe these are both accurate definitions, but they are missing something. To me… thinking outside of the box is not just something you can do. It is an innate ability that many people have, but a majority of people never tap. To think outside the box means you are usually considered an anomaly. You don’t see the world like everyone else. You see the world as round while everyone else thinks it is flat. You see a new way to make life easier so you make a computer. Then someone else sees a newer way to make life easier and makes that huge computer small enough to be put in your pocket or your book bag. The people who can think outside of the box tend to be labeled crazy and their genius isn’t appreciated until after they are already dead. When I think of thinking outside of the box, I see that world as a different color than the “normal” world. For the creative thinkers who want to do the impossible and give man wings… the world they see is purple and blue. For everyone else, the world is yellow.
Yellow is typically a color associated with happiness. The world isn’t gray because the creative thinkers of the world have provided the convenience to keep everyone happy. For those with the out of the box ideas, the grand ideas… the world is a royal blue or purple the color of royalty. These are the people who have the power to rule the world and be the kings and queens of history, the present, and the future. To me, thinking out of the box means you were handpicked to do something no one else but you could do. Thinking outside of the box is a true talent and typically isn’t learned but earned or given.