THIS I BELIEVE . . .

I believe in the power of taking risks.

Taking risks enables people to try new things and allows people to break out of their shell and become more confident in life. If risks weren’t taken then life would be plain boring because no one in the world would feel confident enough to try something new. I definitely consider myself to be a risk taker, because I do challenge myself to take a risk every single day. Life would not be worth living if everyone in the world decided to be boring and choose not to do anything differently. Live a little. Life will be gone before you know it. We are never promised a tomorrow. Since we are never promised a tomorrow, people should take this statement and run with it, because people need to realize that if no risks were taken than this world would be nothing.

In June 2008, I started to take Driver's Ed at the AAA in Long Beach and before I knew it, I was falling head over heels for this guy named Zachary Santana. We talked and talked and I liked him so much. I looked forward to class so we could sit next to each other and talk some more. Time went on, and he still didn't ask me for my number or anything. I prayed that one day he would be mine because "love at first sight" happened to me when I saw him and I just felt compelled to take a risk and make him mine myself. I couldn't take it any longer. Without any hesitation, I asked with a smile on my face, "Can I have your number?" He gave it to me without any reluctance. We stayed up that night talking on the phone until we both saw the sun rise. Zachary Santana had definitely made me take the BEST and BIGGEST risk of my life. I took the risk knowing that I could get hurt and rejected, but I had enough confidence to see how he felt about me. I thank God everyday I took the risk because Zachary and I are still happily together ever since July 15th, 2008.

I believe that taking risks will help this world. "You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take." - Wayne Gretzky. Like Wayne stated, you can't go on living life without trying new experiences, if you choose not to take risks, then you're going to miss every shot. If people in the world decide to take more risks in life, then I'm positive that life would get more unique and diverse. People would be trying new things left and right and the world could be a happier place. Sometimes taking risks may hurt people, but you have to look on the bright side, at least you took the risk in the first place. You choose to be different here and there, and this I believe. Just keep on living life without looking back and take as many risks in life as possible.