Taking Risks

spikefan777

Well-known member
This is a little strange, but I've been thinking about the past several years a lot lately.
I've been extremely shy my whole life, but somehow I've gotten myself to do things, that if given the chance to do now, I would totally avoid.
In 8th grade, I ran for secretary. I had to hang up posters, pass out stickers and speak in front of the entire school. No one helped me with my speech and so it was like what, about 2 paragrahs long? I got up to the podium and only managed 2 sentences. All the other kids who ran had these 20 minutes speeches which were incredible and were spoken so well, that I felt even more stupid.
Throughout middle school I had attended most of the dances only I'd get there and just sit there the entire time and watch everyone else dance. My younger brother who was 2 years younger was out on the dance floor enjoying himself the entire time. Why did I even go, if people would just come up to me and ask me why I wasn't dancing? I guess I expected each time I went, for the dance to be different.
In 9th grade I decided that I'd try out for the dance team. I arrived at tryouts and realized that I had to have a routine. They told me that I could just make something up as I went along. So there I was standing in front of the coaches (they were the moms of 4 of the girls) without a routine. They turned up the loud hip-hop music and I began to dance. I think that I just flung my arms around for about 10 seconds and stood there for about 20 more. The coaches thanked me and asked me why I was even trying out because I seemed a little shy. It was so great. I had just moved there and was trying so hard to get a unshy reputation. School hadn't even started and I had already screwed it up.

I don't even know how I went through with these things. Maybe I learned from them, that is why I won't try out for student counsel, the dance team or anything, now.
 

Richey

Well-known member
But that has to be comforting to know that at least you've done it before so its not out of your potential even if things have changed. I like you used to dance to no problems to R&B music for about six months until a friend kindly let me know that I looked silly and should stop. Im not even into R&B but that definately hurt my feelings so I dont dance anymore. It really got to me, I dont want to dance if everyone is laughing at me yet I never actually noticed people thinking twice about the way I danced. Anyways im into 80's rock music anyway.

It sounds like you had the courage to get on with life even though you were shy, that will benefit you in the future
 

SilentOutlaw

Well-known member
Those sound like some very harsh experiences to go through, the good thing is you were able to force yourself to do those things. Some people would not even be able to get that far. Even though those events didn't go very well, it dosen't mean everything you try will be that bad. There may be something you try and it will be more positive than these experiences. You just need to keep trying and hopefully something works for the better. Just looking at your well made website, I see you are going for drivers training, this will be another experience that would be hard for a lot of social anxiety sufferers. I wish you very good luck with that.
 

Septor

Well-known member
Wow spikefan777 good job on taking a risk.I could not take that kind of risk with something.Like other people said you should be proud of your self. :D
 

scatmantom

Well-known member
Biggest risk i took this week

FIVE EXTRA MINUTES ON MY LUNCH BREAK TODAY

wow wot a rebal...som1 call the SAS i need restraining.
 

Waybuloo

Well-known member
you inspire me spikefan,

i think i'm gonna...yes alrite i'll take a risk with the very challenging Applied Corporate Finance, expectin lots of presentations and participation :cry:
 

spikefan777

Well-known member
scatmantom said:
Biggest risk i took this week

FIVE EXTRA MINUTES ON MY LUNCH BREAK TODAY

wow wot a rebal...som1 call the SAS i need restraining.
Lol yay, your bad! :)

I inspire people? Lol, yeah right. I'm very flattered though. :) :oops:
 

relaxed_attention

Active member
spikefan777 said:
This is a little strange, but I've been thinking about the past several years a lot lately.
I've been extremely shy my whole life, but somehow I've gotten myself to do things, that if given the chance to do now, I would totally avoid.
In 8th grade, I ran for secretary. I had to hang up posters, pass out stickers and speak in front of the entire school. No one helped me with my speech and so it was like what, about 2 paragrahs long? I got up to the podium and only managed 2 sentences. All the other kids who ran had these 20 minutes speeches which were incredible and were spoken so well, that I felt even more stupid.
Throughout middle school I had attended most of the dances only I'd get there and just sit there the entire time and watch everyone else dance. My younger brother who was 2 years younger was out on the dance floor enjoying himself the entire time. Why did I even go, if people would just come up to me and ask me why I wasn't dancing? I guess I expected each time I went, for the dance to be different.
In 9th grade I decided that I'd try out for the dance team. I arrived at tryouts and realized that I had to have a routine. They told me that I could just make something up as I went along. So there I was standing in front of the coaches (they were the moms of 4 of the girls) without a routine. They turned up the loud hip-hop music and I began to dance. I think that I just flung my arms around for about 10 seconds and stood there for about 20 more. The coaches thanked me and asked me why I was even trying out because I seemed a little shy. It was so great. I had just moved there and was trying so hard to get a unshy reputation. School hadn't even started and I had already screwed it up.

I don't even know how I went through with these things. Maybe I learned from them, that is why I won't try out for student counsel, the dance team or anything, now.

Spikefan777, I can totally relate to you. When I was in the 7th grade, the year I moved to a new school, I tried out for the cheerleading team. What the **** was I thinking!?!? Anyway, it was miserable. There were about 6 moms at a long table in this huge room and I was all by myself to do the cheer. Well, I didn’t make it. But I did make poms the following year which I was completely anxious about…Friday night at the high school with the stands full. I can’t believe I would put myself through that. Another memory I had was being invited to the Kawanis Club for getting good grades. The girl who was supposed to go was sick that day. They told me that I would just go and get a free spaghetti lunch. I thought that would be a hell of a lot better than our cafeteria food so I went. When I got there, there were about 100 business men and women in suits and I was the SPEAKER for my high school!!! I was so shocked that I didn’t have time to have a panic attack. I did it and not well, but I did it. I still laugh when I think about how I got so tricked. It was a nightmare.

Also, I always tried out for the softball team even though I wasn’t the greatest. One summer league I was on, I worked my butt off to make All- Stars and made some really great plays and actually made it. But I guess it was a fluke b/c my coaches sat me out every game and I was ostracized by my teammates for being such a crappy player. I remember one Saturday, we played 3 games in a row, drove about 2 hours by bus to get there and they never played me once. But I never gave up for some reason. I made it through those bad times. In the end, the risks I took gave me character and the ability to endure tough times.
 
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