I'm not scared of social interaction; in fact, | enjoy e On’ si 2s
it. | like meeting new people, and what better oe. ¥
place than here? So why was | nervous? | didn’t 7: * - ¥ *:
get to answer my question before | reached } eh i
the entrance, and after a muttered, “Here goes ~~ - ee bd Poe
nothing...” | opened the door and stepped into ~ a mo =| t
the building that was going to be my home away — ol
a a
from home for the next 8 months. eee * %
As | walked into the building, | tried to reassure Ree ;
myself that other people must be nervous too; 4 is b
surely | wasn't the only one. But when | took a a, iss _ “ine
look around, | saw a lot of bright, smiling faces, 4 . _
not showing much sign of fear or anxiety. | also - ? oe . ™ df ,>
saw a lot of pretty girls, so far the only redeeming A: we: o 4 of
part of the 4 minutes and 27 seconds of college af: RE be a a
experience that I’d had so far. Eventually, | v v ng .—
found the gym and took a seat near the middle ; , mae. * ‘ve
of the section of chairs, perhaps to hide a little » i oh
bit. As | tried to settle into this very unfamiliar ~~ AT a pec ro
environment, | took a look around. Now | could cl - ! ae
see it. As | scanned the sea of chairs, | saw the ao : ee
angst and uneasiness of my fellow peers. |sawa ,
lot of people sitting by themselves, not wanting to " E
socialize with other people while being nervous.
| thought that it had finally dawned on me, “Of | was fearful of not being accepted, of not being
course, it’s the fear of unfamiliarity!” While good enough. That is the fear that | believe
this fear is overwhelming large and common in many of us have today. What if we aren’t smart
nearly everyone, that still wasn’t the fear that enough? What if we aren't eloquent enough?
was holding me captive. What if we aren't athletic enough? Whatever
So there | am, sitting in my chair, listening to all category that you may fall into, people thrive on
these speeches and introductions from various public acceptance. | recently heard of a North
people of importance within the college. | was a American survey that asked people what their
little bored, and | was still nervous enough that biggest fear was. The majority of people ranked
| couldn't hold still for any length of time to stop public speaking a greater fear than death. In
fidgeting and actually pay attention. As they other words, these people were more fearful of
wrapped up their speeches and were about to public acceptance and being judged by people
let us loose, the CNC staff did something that than of unfamiliarity and the unknown. What
completely took me by surprise and _ totally does this say about us as a human race? Is that
erased my fear. They clapped for me. It’s not fear of public acceptance warranted? Do we as
that | needed my ego fed or needed attention to a society judge people so harshly at times that
finally loosen up and enjoy myself, it was they can lose enjoyment of this life and try to be
@3 that | was accepted. As the CNC staff clapped something that they are not just for something as
= for the student body, | felt welcome at the college trivial as our approval and acceptance? Perhaps
= and glad that not only had | chosen them as a we should focus on what we can be, and make
= school, but that the school was choosing me. It the most of it, rather than being something else,
&3 was then that | had my epiphany — the fear of and fulfilling only a fraction of what we were
= public acceptance. meant to be.
No) ;
oO

| was fearful of not being accepted, of not being

good enough. That is the fear that | believe
many of us have today. What if we aren’t smart
enough? What if we aren't eloquent enough?
What if we aren’t athletic enough? Whatever
category that you may fall into, people thrive on
public acceptance. | recently heard of a North
American survey that asked people what their
biggest fear was. The majority of people ranked
public speaking a greater fear than death. In
other words, these people were more fearful of
public acceptance and being judged by people
than of unfamiliarity and the unknown. What
does this say about us as a human race? Is that
fear of public acceptance warranted? Do we as
a society judge people so harshly at times that
they can lose enjoyment of this life and try to be
something that they are not just for something as
trivial as our approval and acceptance? Perhaps
we should focus on what we can be, and make
the most of it, rather than being something else,
and fulfilling only a fraction of what we were
meant to be.