Myself as Risk-taker?

By Melissa Yonelunas
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
February 11, 2011

I really enjoyed the fortune cookie activity that we did to discuss risk-taking today. Reading statements and having a discussion about our own thoughts and realizing our own misconceptions was a lot better than just reading about what is involved with risk-taking.

One of the things that we discussed was the fact that a person who does not take any risks in her life is unhealthy. At first, I did not agree with this, but I think it was because I was thinking of risk-taking in terms of doing something stupid, or something dangerous. It was not until we defined risk-taking as pushing your limits and stepping outside of your comfort zone that I agreed with this statement. As Ralph mentioned in class, for him, a risk-taking activity would be cutting a class. I had to laugh at this because I was exactly the same way in high school. Something like skipping a class, or not doing my homework was a big deal for me. I did not drink, or do any drugs, or participate in any dangerous activities.

Risk-taking for me was more like speaking in class. I was extremely shy in high school and expressed myself through my writing, choosing to remain silent in class. This worked for me for a while, I would sit take notes, do my work, and get by in class. In 11th grade I had an English teacher that changed all that. I found myself wanting to participate. By the end of 11th grade, I was really beginning to come out of my shell, and I did not care what people thought about what I said. It was then I took the ultimate risk for me. I ran for 1st vice president of my school’s English honor society, and I won. I ran the club with the rest of the board in what my advisor said was one of the most successful years the club ever had. In the middle of the year, the president could no longer maintain her position and I took over the club as president. It was an amazing experience and definitely changed who I was as an individual.

Now, in college I continue to challenge myself by staying away from drinking parties, and focusing on maintaining my 4.0 GPA. Last semester I challenged myself with writing my honors thesis which my reader said was the best he ever read. I continue to challenge myself as I am in the process of trying to get it published. I am happy with who I am, and I am not afraid to be different and go against the normal.

While I may not do anything stupid, I do also participate in activities that are risky. I love horseback riding, ice skating, roller blading, sledding, and I have been white water rafting, water skiing, snowmobiling, and jet skiing. Reflecting on the things I have done, I can definitely say that I have experienced risk-taking, even if it was not in the way that I would typically think of it. After this class discussion, my perception of risk-taking has opened up to a bigger view, and I would definitely agree that it is essential to the process of growing up.