Risky business

I’ve realized how easy it is to fall into a routine. Having a set schedule is really great and it keeps you busy—but that’s if you’re an old person. We’re young. Having the same daily activities is quite boring! So the best way to keep things fresh is to take risks. This raises the question of what is considered “risky”. To be honest, big risks don’t need to involve anything bad or harmful. Risks can simply be taking chances on any level.

The first part of risk taking involves only yourself. For example, the risk of eating something new at Pierce. Do you trust Sodexo? Should you trust Sodexo? We’re required to have the meal plan, so we don’t have much of a choice. But actually, trying new foods is something that can spice up your day.

The second part is to start being active in student organizations. Try showing up to a club meeting. Even if you aren’t sure that you want to be in the club, you can just show up for information. Here you have to be a little fearless and get around fear of rejection from a group. For example, I know that I get super nervous at auditions. But I went and took a chance trying out for Quackapella anyway. Because even though I didn’t make it, it felt like an accomplishment for me to actually show up and try out. So risk taking involves being uncomfortable, and that’s okay. It helps you grow as a person.

A higher level of risk is more personal: when you’re trying to make friends. Saturday, September 20 marks the end of the freshmen class’s first full month at Stevens, but it is never too late to introduce yourself to new people. A lot of people don’t have trouble doing this, but if you have nothing better to do than to read my article in The Stute, maybe you need a little help getting some friends! Usually you ask the person’s name and major, and find common interests from there. Don’t forget to smile, especially if said person is someone you may like.

The best chance you can take is talking to faculty members. Your professors, research mentors, and TAs will provide the most academic and career help. Never be afraid to kindly introduce yourself to an adult, because you aren’t a child anymore. You need to have connections and good relations within your departmental area of study. In general, the more people you know, the better your life will be. So if you can go out there and have the courage to try some new things, you can easily turn your life from boring to extraordinary.