No. It’s amazing how just two letters have the power to completely close a person off. You can feel the negativity oozing from it. No. Look at it…It even looks limiting.
Saying no is easy. It’s safe. It’s the obvious answer. Hiding behind a wall of no’s is comforting because you’ve immediately protected yourself from anything that could be potentially good or bad. I’m stubborn so I’ve been mastering the art of no since I could speak. But the problem is the things I initially would have said no to, were actually amazing experiences that ended up shaping who I am.
People say no for many reasons: you’re afraid you’ll be disappointed by the results of saying yes, you don’t feel like making the effort to try something new, or maybe you’re shy or nervous in new situations. There are countless excuses that could be used to protect yourself.
A few years ago, I realized that saying no became my default response to everything, and that I was beginning to miss out on things that I probably would have enjoyed. So I started forcing myself to say yes. It can be scary not knowing how something will turn out.
I’m talking specifically about school related opportunities. There are so many clubs, sports teams, music and theater classes, so many things that could potentially fulfill what’s missing in your life. This school has so many opportunities available, you just have to be willing to look for them.
What I’ve learned over the past couple years, especially at New Trier, is that saying yes opens up unexpected doors. A year ago, I decided to take journalism as my elective because I enjoyed writing and needed something to do during 8th period.
Towards the end of the year, my teacher suggested I apply for a senior editor’s position for the newspaper. I was hesitant at first because I knew it would be a large commitment, but once I agreed to do it, I knew it was the right choice. I get to write about something new every week, and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.
Taking risks has benefitted me because the more I do, the more I have learned from those experiences.
Here’s my theory. The more you say yes, the more things you try right? So let’s say you end up trying knitting club. It makes you feel good to be knitting this cool scarf because you’ve picked it up pretty fast and it doesn’t look half bad. You’ve made something in just a few weeks, and now you have a new skill too. You’re actually becoming a happier, more positive person in general, and that benefits everyone around you.
Just say yes. It won’t hurt you, I promise. The worst that can happen is that you won’t like what you tried, and then you move on. That’s just how life works, so learn to roll with it.