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Take a Chance on Taking Risks

By Caleb Goudreau, Grade 12
Imagine yourself sitting at a poker table with cards in your hand wondering if you should put money on the table or fold but you don’t know if your cards are good enough to beat all the other players. What do you do? Take the risk or fold?

My life – or should I say pretty much everybody’s life – is based on taking risks. We take risks daily. For example, do I take the risk to answer the teacher’s question or do I take the risk of not studying for my test the next day? However, people are afraid to take risks because they don’t know where they would end up if they take that risk or if anybody would mock them. Yet sometimes taking risks is the best thing that could ever happen to you.

I remember three years ago, I took the risk of coming to Stanstead, hardly knowing anybody and leaving all my friends. To this day, I still remind myself that it was the best risk I took, meeting new awesome people and being in an environment where everybody is accepting and welcoming. If I hadn’t taken that risk, I wouldn’t have been able to meet all these fantastic new people and develop long lasting connections throughout my 3 years here.

I also took another risk last year. It was to apply to become a prefect. Not saying that becoming a prefect is a bad idea, but one aspect that did not really interest me was delivering a speech in front of the school, but I did not let that stop me from actually trying to become one. I took the risk of applying and going through the process, and to be honest I do not regret my decision at all.

Now let’s back up about 13 years. I was 4 years old, not knowing where I would end up or what my strengths and weaknesses were or probably not knowing how to fully read. I took the risk of starting to play hockey, not knowing anything about the sport. It was the first time I heard the word “hockey.” It’s impressive how even when you are young and not full of wisdom that you still take risks not knowing the consequences or the advantages of what you are risking. I can’t imagine where I would be right now if I did not take the risk to play hockey. Would I be playing a different sport if I hadn’t taken that risk that I took 13 years ago? And I do think that it was the best risk I took?

I believe that the best memories I have with family and friends are about taking risks. I believe that taking risks is something that we should all do, even though sometimes it sounds scary. Look at Steph Curry, for example. He takes the risk of taking those impressive half court shots, and yet he makes them and is well known because of that.

For all those Fortnite players, I am sure you will be able to relate to this but when you start a game, you take the risk of potentially breaking your remote controller (Blake), yet you take that risk and start a new game and a new game and a new game. You still take the risk and play the game.

However, I do understand people who are scared to take risk because that risk might affect their future or their next decision. Living in fear is also something that is normal, but you should not let that restrict you from doing what you want to do or accomplish later in life. If you have a goal, then pursue it. Take risks to get to your goal. If you don’t take risks, then the chance of you getting to your goal is much smaller. You won’t live your life to the fullest. If you want to do something just do it. Take the risk and thrive forward and accomplish your task.

I was on Instagram the other day, I saw this neat quote, and it goes as follows. “Everything is a risk; not doing anything is a risk. It’s up to you.”
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