The Magic of Risking Everything
Author Meg for Review for Relief
Thomas Stearns Eliot once said, “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” According to the Recruiting Times, only 5% of those interviewed in a study in the United Kingdom is presently in their dream careers. The explanations cited for those who are part of the 95% include fear of failure, embarrassment, and unsupportive family and friends. I firmly believe that, in order to achieve your dreams in life, you must be willing to take risks by confronting these challenges.
There are several reasons why we should take risks, even if we may experience several failures along the way before finally reaching our goals. Taking risks allows us to discover more exceptional opportunities than we had ever imagined. Additionally, taking risks and even experiencing failure will help us grow stronger, have more experience, and become increasingly confident in ourselves. Furthermore, doing this may help us overcome our innate fear of failure. However, we should ensure that, when taking risks, we do not do so blindly. We must carefully consider the possible outcomes and think of ways to mitigate the impact of negative ones. While pursuing our planned course of action, we must always be ready to adapt to changing circumstances.
By applying to the top universities abroad, I do realize that there are multiple risks involved. Living in a different state or country would be a completely new experience, and many of us have not developed all the skills necessary to live on their own. Of course, there is always the chance that you get rejected from those universities. Prepare yourself to face all these challenges, and so they can deter you as little as possible from your plans.
Several successful people in a wide range of industries have credited a large portion of their success to their willingness to take risks and their courage to keep going after failing. One example is Vera Wang, a famous fashion designer based in New York City. She started as one of the youngest and most successful fashion editors in Vogue and later was an accessories designer at Ralph Lauren. At age 40, she decided to take a huge risk and make a career change - opening a bridal shop and launching her own line of gowns. Now, she is one of the most respected and prestigious names in the fashion industry and has a net worth of approximately $700 million. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, serves as another example. As a Princeton University graduate, he didn’t have much trouble getting a high-paying job on Wall Street and rising quickly to a highly respectable status. However, in 1994, Bezos quit his lucrative job to start Amazon. He was successful in revolutionizing the retail industry and establishing Amazon as the leader in e-commerce. In the process, Bezos changed the way we all shop, both online and in physical stores. Because of his choice to quit, he has also become the richest man on the planet, worth about $175 billion.
“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark” - Michelangelo
Never be afraid to reach for your dreams and never let anything or anyone stop you from doing so, because you, your goals, and the possibility of the future you have imagined for yourself are worth every risk.