Recently I came across a post on social media written by a group called Why We Stay. The cover of the post had no picture, and only eleven words:
What if for one day you try living with no fear?
This concept struck me forcefully as I tried to contemplate what a day in my life would look like without any fear.
Eventually I came to the conclusion that a day without fear wouldn’t necessarily be a day completely free from some worry. Instead, it would be a day when we’d not allow those worries to have control over what we do.
What does a day without fear look like?
For me it would be a day I make the effort to talk to the people around me rather than fear saying something wrong. It would be a day that I actively tried to participate in the school activities instead of trying to disappear as fast as possible. It would be a day that I went out of my way to smile at people, instead of awkwardly trying to avoid eye contact as we passed each other in the halls.
These are only a few of the things that would be part of my fear-free day. This year, I have found that even focusing on these few things has already made a significant difference for me.
What does a day without fear look like for you?
I imagine that we all have moments where we didn’t do something that would make us happy because we were in some state of fear. This causes us to miss out on a lot of experiences that we would have otherwise enjoyed!
As high schoolers we are constantly given opportunities to try new things. We get the chance to be a part of sports teams, try new classes, and participate in numerous activities provided for us through our schools and communities. Unfortunately, many high schoolers don’t take these opportunities to grow, explore, and make memories. From personal experience, I think that one of the biggest reasons that high schoolers choose to miss out on many of these opportunities is because of unnecessary fears.
Take this challenge with me. Try living a day without letting fear take control, and see the difference it makes. It is definitely something most of us will have to work for, but I think that mastering fear is worth the effort.
High school doesn’t last forever. We need to make the most of the time we have! Don’t be afraid to get involved.
Try the new class. Explore the activities that interest you. Go out for a sport. Make a new friend. Talk to someone new. Ask that person out. Participate in the activities the student council has prepared. Stand up for yourself. And let the people around you know you love them.
And don’t be afraid to experience life!
– by Nadia Griffin (17) Escalante
Feature image caption: Imagine a new day with no fear. What would it look like? Courtesy Lukas.
Nadia Griffin – Escalante
Nadia is a designer and junior editor for The Byway. She is currently a senior at Escalante High School. She is also the oldest of nine children. Nadia enjoys writing in almost every genre. In her free time, she loves to play and compose music. She also likes to compete in basketball, cross country, and track and field for her high school.