“Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!”
Ms. Frizzle circa Magic School Bus
I used to be a shy, afraid, overly methodical girl who was never outgoing and never took a risk. It was because of a fear of what others may think or if I would be the one making other people uncomfortable. I also used to be overly concerned with what other people thought of me and if I was making the best impression.
Forget that.
These past few years I have learned to take advantage of opportunities that come my way, to say “yes” instead of “no” more often. While this may get me in trouble by never being able to say no, I have had a better life experience by saying “yes” more often. To relate to my current situation, I find myself overbooked with school, work, and outside activities while running around trying to find a job after graduation. Yesterday I booked it after class into Manhattan for a job interview about a marketing assistant position and then proceeded to run back for Hofstra’s Association for Graphic Artists’ “Not All Artists Are Starving” networking event. Friday I have an audition at MTV and all weekend I am picking up extra hours at LICM. My next three months are already halfway booked in my planner and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.
More often than not, I feel that self-doubt gets in the way more than lack of experience or knowledge. Everyone is their own worst enemy in that your perspective on any given day could make or break you. When you are at your best and most confident, you produce better work, writing gets easier, inspiration comes from everywhere. When I am at my worst, all insecurities surface, from wondering if that guy really likes me as much as he says he does to whether my friends feel they can still count on me to worrying about if I will find a job after graduation.
It’s the acceptance that life is unpredictable, unplanned, and unfair that will change your life. We have just this one life to experience, so it’s fine to try anything and everything, making mistakes along the way. I would not be where I am today if I decided I was too afraid to apply to WRHU or move to Chicago for the summer or apply for an internship or speak up in French Literature or tell some one how I really felt. With all that experience and insight on life you will get by saying “yes, i want to take chances and make mistakes”, you will be able to relate to so many more people. You are simply being an active, passionate individual who takes the initiative to take their life for what it’s worth – as precious time to gain and grow as much as possible.
My Name Is Reb 