BY KAYLAN ENGE

Stepping out of your comfort zone is something that is hard to do when you have been doing things a certain way for as long as you can remember. 

If you are anything like me, then you may feel anxious in a social setting. You may feel awkward even around your friends. Going to social events with your friends may put you in a rough spot that forces you to expand your comfort zone. 

Recently Homecoming 2016 passed for REV. Usually I don’t like to go to dances, but hey, it’s senior year and I haven’t gone to any events like this before.  At first, I started off fine and was excited to hang out with my friends, but the closer the day came the more I began to feel anxious and uncomfortable. 

The thought of having to wear dress-up clothes upset me more than anything. Usually many people would enjoy dressing up and looking nice. But I’m the kind of person who would much rather wear jeans and a jacket instead of dress-up clothes. So I ended up shopping for clothes with my dad, who I see everyday, but never actually talk to because he has work and I have school and marching band. I don’t know if anyone else goes through this but for me it kind of made me happy.

We ended up finding nice clothes and I thought they looked weird. Stepping out of your comfort zone means that you have to understand that your opinion isn’t the only one that stands anymore. Now don’t get me wrong it felt weird but I was going to go and I wasn’t anything stop me from going.  

When I got there, it was awkward for me because I didn’t see anyone I knew at first and I was just wandering around looking for my friends (which was kinda hard to do with a huge crowd and loud music on a dance floor.)  Can you say awkward? Have you ever been to a huge crowded place where you couldn’t find anyone you knew?

Eventually I found them when I was getting punch and we ended up dancing and having a great time. As the night went on, I got more comfortable dancing and not worrying so much about how weird it was for me. 

When you want to experience something, you can’t let yourself be controlled by anxiety. Anxiety is just fear. We as people experience fear, but it’s our choice on whether we let it affect our decisions. 

After all, some good things came from deciding to go. I got to hang out with my dad, have fun with my friends, and grow out of my own comfort zone. I ended up enjoying homecoming when I never really expected to. 

So I believe that if I can do it so can anyone else. You just have to be willing to do it for yourself.

​A few ways to start that off would be taking small steps into doing things that would normally make you feel nervous. Go out with some friends to watch a movie or just go over to their house. Or if you want to try making new friends just start simple. Say hi and introduce yourself. Make conversation. For all you know you might find someone in the same situation as you and by stepping out of yours they just might do the same. Why not help others grow while growing yourself?