It’s scary to risk suffering the pain and embarrassment that can come with failing. You might:
…try your best in AP chemistry and not do well.
…run for junior class president and lose.
…suggest an idea for a French Club fundraiser that raises almost no money.
…try out for varsity basketball and not get picked.
…apply for a part-time job and not get hired.
…put your hand up and give the wrong answer in your math class.
…fail the AP Euro test even though you studied really hard.
…share an idea with your club that the president shoots down.
…not quite hit the high note in your sax solo.
All pretty rough, I admit it. So you have two choices. Take the risk, or hide and play it safe. But before you decide, remember:
1. Nobody ever died from failures like these (motorcycle daredevlis and bullfighters are a different story and beyond the scope of this blog).
2. You’ll never stand out by hiding.
Colleges will always be more impressed with kids who have the guts to try and the maturity to learn from it when they fail. Don’t hide. Put yourself out there and go for it. You’ll either be successful or you’ll learn and move on. Either way, you’ll be smarter and braver.