As human beings, we strive for the feeling of comfortability. We often choose the safe, predictable road over the unknown… why is that? It's because uncertainty causes stress. Even though remaining in your comfort zone can be a good thing, it can also prevent you from further developping as a human being. According to goal cast, “The primary ingredient for a happy life very well may be progress, as recent positive psychology studies have pointed towards. Shawn Achor, positive psychologist and author of The Happiness Advantage, refers to happiness as “the joy you feel moving towards your potential.” Although I am an outgoing, talkative person, I often find it nerve wracking to speak in front of a large number of people. I decided to face that fear, and overcome it through my school’s leadership program, where I became a Youth Leader. I also decided to join student council, interact club and also took debate. Becoming a senior leader in my school was very important to me because I wanted to be able to provide guidance and support for my fellow peers. I enjoy this because it has enabled me to expand my delegation and leadership skills. Here are 10 Ways to Overcome Fear and Break Out of Your Comfort Zone according to Success 1. Take nothing for granted. 2. Switch up your routine. 3. Move toward your fears. 4. Give up control. 5. Try something new until you feel comfortable. 6. Ask the questions other people don’t like to. 7. Start conversations with strangers. 8. Agree to something you wouldn’t normally consider. 9. Get in front of the camera. 10. Keep a list of growth goals. I was forced to step outside of my comfort zone and exhibit confidence while directing a large number of people. My tasks were often to manage large groups of people and work collaboratively with my fellow leaders, and share ideas without the fear of judgment. This experience helped me grow, and now as a senior leader I am able to effortlessly guide and delegate tasks to my peers without hesitation. While I was once afraid of sounding bossy, I now realized that to be a successful and confident leader, one has to possess and exhibit strong initiative, and to lead through example. Through this, I was able to learn to find new confidence, which has positively impacted my school work and presentations as well, as I am able to get my point across in a quick and meaningful way. By improving my communication skills, I will continue to demonstrate integrity and be a successful leader.
Moral of the story, stepping outside of your comfort zone can be a very difficult, tedious process but once you finally do, you won't believe how many opportunities there are waiting for you. Check out https://www.goalcast.com/2017/08/22/comfort-zone-killing-you-how-to-beat-it/ for some for information on why you should step outside of your comfort zone. Nyah G
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Looking at my classmates around me begs the question, how many of them actually work part time. Education and good grades to many of my friends is the utmost important thing in their high school experience. This surpasses even the thought of working a drive thru line at McDonalds. As a part time employee, I have gone beyond the walls of SDSS to learn life skills in the customer service industry. The skills and leadership I have acquired from working at Meridian Farm Market has given me the confidence to become a better person and move up in the company. This could one day help me to reach beyond the tiny farm market, and achieve my goals in University where I hope to study management and business. Customer service is all about putting the customer first, whether that be dealing with complaints or refunds. Making the customer feel like they are welcome and cared for is a big concern for customer service workers. Asking questions like “How is your day going so far?” or “How are you today?” can be very welcoming and improve the customers experience while shopping or whatever customer service they are getting. I have dealt with some difficult customers in the past. I have had a lady throw a loaf of bread at me and some customers storm out of the store because we don't have the product they came looking for. It is very difficult in these sorts of situations to put a smile on your face. The best way I fix the situation is to ask the customer if they would like to order a certain item to the store or if they need a refund then anything under $20 is free of charge. Having that balance of producer and consumer benefits not only the company, but a higher chance of that customer coming back to our store. Three things I have learned working in the customer service industry is that each company can only have two of three things: quality, great customer service, and fair price. Meridian where I work, has only quality and great customer service. Why? Because when customer service is the number one priority it becomes the company's reputation. Quality can drive prices of food up and that is why Meridian lacks in price and thrives in quality. All of these examples of production I would have never even thought to research if I hadn’t gotten my hands dirty and put myself to work. I believe it is a life lesson to work at a young age because the skills and knowledge I have acquired have set me apart from my classmates who have had allowance and money handed to them their whole lives. Don’t get me wrong, it is a privilege to only worry about school. I find that the money is not the main part of working a part time job but the experience that you can take out from it, and apply into the real world. Having a little extra cash to spend while still living rent free in your parents basement is something that can teach a young adult the importance of saving. I have learnt to save and put money away in a separate account to save for whenever I need it in the future. Just by doing that it has taught me another life lesson that i would've never received in the public school system. When looking at the real world there are many internships that people don't get paid for. Having a part time job and working at minimum wage should be taken advantage of especially at a young age because it shows younger people a little sense of what the real world is like. Having a minimum wage job builds confidence and personal development within oneself which can lead them towards further successes in their future. It all starts with an application.
Riley M You have been studying since you got home at 3pm , you just now look at your phone and it's 7pm... With little to no food in your belly, your notes sprawled all across your bedroom floor and your new favourite tv show playing on your computer just for some “background noise” you then question yourself to why you can't remember anything you've studied for the past 4 hours. Many teens have suffered with poor study habits- including myself and it is very hard to pick up brand new studying methods later on into your schooling. I personally was pulling a pretty low average in my earlier years of high school, not caring and scanning over a text book the night before a unit test- it wasn't that i was “dumb” or wasn't necssecaily trying.. I just had the wrong habits. According to https://psychcentral.com/lib/top-10-most-effective-study-habits/ most of the reason we dread doing homework or studying is mostly our own approach to the material. There are a few key important factors that come into play while studying, one even before you open your book- our mindset. For me it was always a drag for me to open that math textbook to the same black and white page where all the problems just keep getting harder and harder. I attempt the first question, flip the page to the answer key.. It's wrong so I try another harder question without seeking help. That one is wrong ; from there I close my book and give up. What is a successful study session then? Well everybody learns at different pace and fashion so there is no correct answer for everyone but there are some ways to make more worth your wild. First before a big midterm where do you choose to study, a quiet corner of your house or the student lounge at your school with all your friends. The human brain cannot pick up information successfully with immense amounts of background noise and distractions going on. Secondly come with a full belly- not one to make you feel sick but enough where you aren't distracted as hunger affects our mood, thoughts and our ability to remember information. Lastly have your notes on a surface like a table not on your bed or bedroom floor.. This does not work for everyone but in my own personal experience i worked the best with colour coded notes - yellow for example as terms and blue for important names of people. With that it helps me remember things, using mnemonics and fun websites to study like a quizlet are also all so helpful. This was all me talking from my own experience and some ways I have been able to change my grades and the ways I study. If you want to learn more about healthy student habits visit https://www.cmich.edu/ess/studentaffairs/SDS/Pages/10-Habits-10-Traps.aspx Emily M |
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