A Life-changing Experience
My life changed in fifth grade after a transfer to a new school after my parents moved to a new city. That day, the lesson involved a reading exercise, and the teacher would call students in turns to assess their capabilities in front of their peers. Most of my new classmates had learnt about my previous school, and it was obvious that their expectations on me were high. I observed with concern the teacher’s way of selecting the readers and realized that students with previous reading difficulties were prioritized. However, I was new, and my abilities were not assessed, and I knew I would not overcome my fears. I knew my fears, but my teacher and students saw something else. The events that transpired after I was called and the time I walked back to my seat on that day in my new school have continued to play a crucial role in shaping my life. Fear could either build or break or build an individual and my experience is an example of personality built from the realization that, fear could be used as a basis of courage.
My appearance in front of the class was not what everyone expected. I was shivering uncontrollably and could hear my audience murmur in disapproval. However, my new peers were kind and did not boo at me when the teacher told me to get back to my seat. However, I could read the disappointment written all over their faces, which brought out a different perception of life. I learnt that sometimes I have to fight fear, not only because I have a reputation to keep but also because there are people with high expectations about my capabilities.
The experience appears to have created a sense of courage and determination that I had not recognized within me. I have been able to turn nervousness and fear into positive energy and using that to grow. I cannot keep track of all the speeches I have managed to give since the experience and how I have grown to motivate people facing a similar challenge. Besides, the treatment I got from my new peers changed my perception, and I have since grown to realize that the world still has kind people who are determined to see other people grow to achieve their potential. Besides, experiences have proved time and again to be major turning points for people’s lives and should be treated positively.
My experience has a large connection to cultural, social, or human issues as it presented a common occurrence in normal life. People are always moving to new places, and the experiences they meet affect their lives. The cultural organizations of the new people met might, for example, be different, and the experiences turn out according to the reception gotten. The social aspect also plays a role in that someone will easily adapt to an experience depending on the social factors involved. My new peers were welcoming and supportive, hence my ease in overcoming that fear. Moreover, the experience gave me ideas that have since then been crucial in building a new personality in me.
Fear is perceived differently by different people. My experience was open and different people could have reacted differently. When I lacked the courage to talk in front of new people, my reaction was to accept that I could not correct that immediately. Therefore, I had to let the presentation go and wait for another chance. A different person could have given up and decided to stay away from situations that could have exposed them to public presentation. I did not let the experience break my desire to improve, although the circumstances would also not allow. Besides, I was a student, and I was aware that similar experiences awaited me. Therefore, the fear that I would be embarrassed again in future led me to work hard to overcome the fear of presenting in front of my peers. Generally, I accepted that fear was part of me, and the only thing I could do was to embrace it and create courage out of it.
I have grown to change my perspective of fear and realized that it is a way of protecting me but the reception matters. Fear is the response that either the body or the mind sends when a situation arises. The reaction to that fear defines what actions happen after the situation has happened. For example, my fear during the experience was that I was not the best student in the class. Also, I was new and was afraid that my peers were better than me. However, the reception was negative at the moment. I decided to give in and even failed the expectations of my teacher and new peers. A better reception would be to use the fear as a basis for better performance so that I come out the best and live as per my peers’ expectations. That notion, however, came to me later and has been useful several years later. I have chosen to view fear as a wake-up call to tell me that I should put in more effort because there are expectations to live up to. Moreover, I made a choice not to allow my fear to decide what I can or cannot do.
Fear leads people into shying away from the things they could or could not have done. I had been an excellent reader in my previous school, but fear brought out a different version of me that day. My slow adjustment to new social settings could have played a role in the events of that day. Generally, new environments are associated with tension, but not everyone gives in to tension. Therefore, I decided to view my response to fear on that day as a weakness that I could not live with. I have since then decided that everything I do will be independent of whether or not fear is involved. I have decided to choose what I have to or not do based on my ability to do it and not due to fear. The changes that the experience brought into me have been visible in all my daily activities.
In sum, my experience as a transferee changed my life, and I have since held a different perspective on life. When I lacked the courage to talk in front of new people, my reaction was to accept that I could not correct that immediately. I have since grown to realize that personal development helps both an individual and the people around them since they have expectations as well. I also accepted that fear was part of me and the only thing I could do was to embrace it and create courage out of it. New experiences are common in life, and they play a crucial role in determining an individual’s life changes. Generally, experiences might bring out a positive change in life if treated in the right way.