From August to December of 2023, every Sunday I would volunteer my time at a senior home for around 2 hours. And to be completely candid, this is something I would have never done on my own free will. This sounds terrible but I only started volunteering because it would make my BCIT application more competitive when it came time to apply. I knew I was going to learn a few things here and there from this experience but I would've never guessed just how much I was actually going to gain. Not only did I personally develop, but I did so while giving back to the community. My favourite part of volunteering was spending one-on-one time with the residents. Hearing their stories - which was always filled with wisdom and experience - helped shift my perspective on life. They would share stories of how they majorly screwed up back in their days but 99% of the time, they would conclude their tale with it never mattering in the end. With that in mind, I stopped caring so much about things. Of course, I was still responsible but for little things like other people’s opinions of me or embarrassing moments that happened in the past, I reduced the amount of thought I put into those types of things. And because of this, I feel less anxious and more mentally energetic because a big part of my brain isn't occupied on small things like that anymore. My main task every Sunday, though, was to help residents move to the music room where they enjoyed music with Shawn, who performed every week. Shawn would play music from the 50s and 60s because that's what the residents recognize. Music from those time frames meant a lot to them and hearing it brings them back fond memories. And I am a big fan of music, I absolutely love it, like I can’t go a day without listening to it but I’m not a fan of older music. I do like a couple of classic tunes here and there but overall, I’m just not a big fan of music from that time period. But included in my volunteer was to sit and enjoy the music with the residents. At first, I kept a closed mind and kept convincing myself it was boring because I’m not used to that type of music. But I told myself that this is something I’m going to have to experience every week for the next few months, I should start being more open minded about it. As the weeks went on, I found myself starting enjoying the songs and would even look forward to Shawn singing specific ones. In the end, I’m glad I kept an open mind because it made volunteering more enjoyable. I see myself using this skill a lot in the future and I truly believe that it could not only help me become a better person but also improve the way I live my life. In conclusion, I’m proud of myself for doing something so out of my comfort zone and I’m glad I did because not only was it personally fulfilling but I was also able to positively impact the residents at Augustine House. I really encourage anyone who has extra time to volunteer. It’s extremely satisfying to know that you’re giving back to the community and while also gaining something beneficial at the same time. And the secret is; to maintain an open mind and positive attitude because doing so will make the experience 10x more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Rosetta C
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Throughout our lives, many little things make us feel uncomfortable. It can be as simple as sitting at a new desk or meeting a new group of people. No matter the scale, this feeling of discomfort forces us to step outside our comfort zone. Any new little thing that makes us uncomfortable can be scary, but being uncomfortable is a normal occurrence in our daily lives. Many people are born with the ability to be in the spotlight and are not afraid to put themselves out there. Unfortunately, for many others, it does not come as naturally. Putting yourself out there involves a different process for each person, but it is possible for everyone. It can either be excruciatingly hard or relatively easy, depending on how you feel in public and with new situations. Talking about putting yourself out there is an easy thing to do, but initiating the task in real life is not as easy. Last summer, I experienced a situation where I had to step outside of my comfort zone. I was asked to help volunteer coach field hockey for two little girls in my community. At first, I was ecstatic with this job since I love the sport and showing someone my passion always puts a smile on my face. However, the more I thought about it, the more nerve-wracking it became. Even though I view myself as more of a team player than a leader, I won't hesitate to speak up if needed. As I tend to stay more in the background, putting myself out there with planning and leading practices and drills was not easy. During the practice, I sometimes felt scared and nervous when providing feedback and helpful tips. I didn't want my input to offend or discourage the girls if taken the wrong way, even though I'm trying to help them by giving my advice. Within the first few weeks of practice, I had to learn to be more confident and not be afraid of the response I would get with voicing my opinions. Being more confident in myself was not an easy obstacle to overcome, yet the results of doing so have been quite beneficial to me. I might still be shy from time to time, but I find myself acting in ways to build my confidence on an everyday basis. Here are a few things I found that helped me become more confident:
For more ways or steps that help you with stepping out of your comfort zone, I recommend visiting these websites:
Kaya D 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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