President Calvin Coolidge once said, “I have never been hurt by what I have not said.” If this is true, then he is the luckiest man there ever was.

As a senior, I have plenty of high school regrets. Most are from what I did not do or say instead of what I did. High school is a treasure trove of opportunity, yet we so often miss out on opportunities at a time when they are most precious. Put at its simplest, it is because we are afraid.

We are hesitant to venture outside of our daily routines if they work for us. Yet this can restrict us to making each day like the one before it, missing chances that we might only have in our short time here at the high school.

How do we escape these routines if we are so drawn to them? I propose the idea of risk-taking.

Risk-taking is one of the most encouraged elements of acting. Give it your all constantly and try something new every time. How can your performance be improved if you stick to the same formula? Taking risks onstage should always work out.

You could do a great little gesture that you didn’t even realize you were capable of or discover new skills. If it is not successful, you learn your lesson and move on.

You can take what you learned from these risks to add them to your repertoire. It is clear why acting instructors encourage risk-taking: you can show everything you are capable of and you can prove that you are willing to be bold and fearless.

This idea changed my life. I once struggled severely with being shy. I was afraid to take risks and thought that avoiding people would help me put off my problems.

I hid in my shell to keep myself safe, but I was not happy. My life was monotonous to the point of being painful. Over time, it was clear that change was not going to come to me. I had to take action to make progress.

I began to slowly venture outside of my comfort zone, taking little risks such as talking to people I did not know too well or going places I did not usually go. And from it, the people I did not know became friends, and the new places I visited helped me meet new people and try new things. I embraced the good and learned from the bad in my risk-taking, allowing me to advance to where I am today.

Why does this matter to you? As high school students, we have a tendency to fall into formulas. Typically each day, we’ll talk to the same people, go the same places and do the same things. Nothing is inherently wrong with that. Having a safe routine can be very comforting.

But if we’re not careful, it can rob us of growth. Each risk we take can provide new insight in our lives by showing us what is good to do and what could be harmful.

It should be noted that taking risks at every possible chance can be dangerous. While it isn’t exactly a renowned piece of cinema, the 2008 film Yes Man gave an interesting outlook on this idea.

Small spoilers ahead: Jim Carrey’s character decided to say yes to every opportunity he could. He took lessons in flying planes and speaking Korean, learned to play guitar and gained immensely from each experience he tried. He learned to help people and build relationships. However, his decisions ended up getting him in trouble. Terence Stamp’s character gave him some wise advice: this experience was not about saying yes to everything. It was about not refusing new opportunities because you can learn from them.

While a lot can be gained from saying yes, doing so responsibly and thoughtfully is vital. You can’t undo your mistakes, but you also can’t undo missing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

By repeating routines, we get used to staying within our comfort zone. High school is one of the best times for us to grow, and growth is slow if we don’t take chances at least every once in a while. We learn from taking risks and, at this stage in our life, learning is key to growth.

As much as we hate to admit it, we are ignorant and know very little of the world at this age. So I recommend making risk-taking a part of your daily life. Try talking to people you wouldn’t usually speak with and they could become close friends. Give new extracurriculars a chance and you could find some pleasant surprises. Accept the challenges life presents you.

You could have just as much to gain from losing and learning than from winning and moving on. Life is short, and your time in high school is much shorter. Experience it to its fullest and don’t be afraid to say yes.

Want to write for Opinions?  Contact us at [email protected].