All throughout high school, I’ve liked getting myself involved. Without it, I feel my time isn’t used productively and I could be benefiting others, as well as myself, by putting myself out there. However, almost once a week, when I walk through the door, getting home at 8 p.m., I always say to my dad, “Man, I wish I was never involved.”
I say this and the moment I do, I know I’m lying to myself. Although being involved is time consuming, I have been given so many opportunities and life lasting memories that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Starting my freshman year,I joined a lot of clubs and tried to do everything I possibly could. With the confidence from my first year, I decided to take a leap and join the cross country team.
Going into cross country, I didn’t even think I could run a mile straight. I was nervous and felt like I wouldn’t fit in but I kept trying hard to be the best I could be. Through my determination, I stuck with cross country through senior year and became the girls varsity captain.
Whenever you ask someone “Why do you do cross country?,” everyone’s immediate answer is “the people.” The people who run cross country are a special group that cannot be found in any other social environment.
My teammates never let me sell myself short.
They are what shaped me into the captain and person I am today, and the reason I stuck with the sport. They helped me learn perseverance and discipline. Cross country taught me so many life lessons and skills that will be so beneficial later on in my future. Along with cross country, my other biggest impact is being on the newspaper staff.
Room 518 has been my home since sophomore year when I joined as an intimated staff writer. I was nervous and felt I didn’t belong because I had absolutely no clue what I was doing. That idea in my mind changed very quickly.
Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and they would work with me right away. I started to slowly find my love for newspaper within the little things; between our treat days, pumpkin carving, and the bonds I started to create, I knew I found my home.
My second year on staff I was always able to express myself and put out ideas that I thought were important to be covered without the feeling of being embarrassed. Ava McGuire taught me to never underestimate myself, and she became my best friend.
Through her being an editor-in-chief, I knew I wanted to be just like her. I’d like to thank her for giving me the confidence I have now and making me the editor-in-chief I am today. I would also like to thank Mrs. Michelle Huss a.k.a Huss Bus for being like a second mom to me. I lost my second mother figure at a young age and having someone like Huss to take over that role is something I am truly thankful for. Room 518 is a very special place that will have long-lasting memories.
So to sum it all up, you want to be involved, and you want to put yourself out there even if you “wish you weren’t so involved.”
By putting yourself out there, you never know what’s going to happen, and that’s OK. Maybe you’ll hate it, maybe you’ll love it, but you’ll never regret allowing yourself to try it.
Change is scary but so is staying the same. Looking back you will be so grateful you met wonderful people that will love you for who you are and you’ll explore more about yourself through your activities.
It’s OK to feel uncomfortable and get out of your comfort zone. Start becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable.
