SHOOT THE ARROW

JUNIOR SAMIRA KUNATE LEARNING NEW THINGS BY TRYING PHOTOGRAPHY; PHOTO BY GABI HENRIQUEZ

As the years have gone by there has been a growing epidemic of many people too scared to try new things, too cozy in their bubble of comfort and leisure. As we all know covid had taken a big bite out of the normal flow of our society and we are just now slowly getting back to the way things were. This epidemic has bled into our society creating many holes, especially in the social realm. Our noncompliance to simply try has cost us not just a growing issue of loneliness and mental illnesses but also a chance to be socially and intelligently competent. Trying is more than just a thing you do, it is essential in growing as individuals and as a society. The Anchor sent out a survey asking students if they are open to trying new things. Overall the results had positive responses that show that many students are open to trying. Two questions though, proposed a different claim. With 104 responses from the question, ‘’Are you scared to try new things because you are worried you will fail?’’ 34.6% of the responses said no while the yes and maybe choices had 32.7%. As shown in the data gathered, most are open to trying regardless of if they fail but that percentage is really close to the other students that said yes or maybe. This data shows that only about ⅓ of those that responded to the survey are surely open to trying even if failing is a possibility. Now, this is not bad but it is also not good because that means ⅔ of those that completed the survey are unsure and/or not open to try if there is a possibility of failing. The other question that proposed a different claim was a question asking what feelings are experienced when trying new things. The options of excitement, fear, embarrassment that people are watching, and curiosity. Out of 104 responses 41% said that they feel embarrassed that others are watching, with that percentage by far being the highest. Again this is not good. As a unit we have to learn to try regardless of anything, so we can learn to handle ourselves socially and individually. Halting our interests and deluding our curiosity because people are watching is simply not going to do anyone any good. It is understandable to try to fit in especially in high school but at the end of the day it is a place where you will eventually have to leave. It is not embarrassing to try, (don’t listen to anyone that says otherwise). Whether that be a new hobby, speaking to a new person, or a skill that you are trying to learn, at least you are trying and that is more than what those ‘’haters’’ will ever achieve. So as we enter into this new year how about we all just try, take that class, play that sport, ask that question, talk to that person, whatever just try! Who cares if someone is watching? All that matters is that you tried. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming’’. For this new year, I want to challenge you. I challenge you to simply shoot the arrow, you never know, you just might shoot the bull’s eye.