Take That Leap: Jumping Even When You’re Scared -

Imagine standing at the edge of a plane door 10,000 feet in the air — the wind is hitting your face harder than the football that bonked Marcia Brady’s nose, and the only things that you see below are clear blue skies and colorful patches of land. Would you take that leap?

If you answered “no,” I’m not surprised. Most people would be terrified to jump because uncertainty is, well, terrifying. But facing your fears and making that jump can open doors you never thought possible.

Take it from me.

How I Decided to Take That Leap

When I was 27 years old, I had a wild idea: I should fulfill my childhood dream of learning how to figure skate. I wanted to jump and spin like the greats, but the thought of vaulting over 135 pounds into the air and falling on rock-hard ice was terrifying. It also didn’t sound like the best idea for someone who is admittedly a little clumsy.

A figure skater must find immeasurable courage to take that leap, especially the first time. The rewards, however, are matchless. — Giphy

Despite the fear (and risk of bodily harm), I found myself at my local ice rink, slipping on a pair of ill-fitted rental skates that smelled like a hockey locker room after a long game. And when I stepped on the ice, I felt like Elsa from Frozen! I was gliding gracefully around the rink… until I met my archnemesis: the toe pick. One trip on that and I went flying (ungracefully) across the ice, and belly-flopped in front of more than 60 teenagers… definitely not like Elsa.

Was it terrifying? Yes. Painful? Definitely. It did not stop me, however. Believe it or not, it inspired me.

After vowing to never put my feet in rental skates again (you know why), I purchased my own figure skates. Seven years later, I’m still figure skating because it changed my life. Pushing myself to jump (figuratively and literally) taught me that it does not matter how many times I fall — what matters is that I get back up and learn from my falls. What matters is that I continue doing what I love — not because I need to, but because I want to. Sure, I’ll probably never land a triple axel like Tonya Harding, but who cares? Figure skating brings me joy, and I can’t imagine my life without it.

Why You Should Embrace Discomfort

You’ll never be ready to take that leap unless you decide to just go for it.

Pushing yourself to jump—getting comfortable with the uncomfortable—will pay dividends. Running with that “wild” essay idea or getting involved in that extracurricular opportunity that seems “too challenging” will transform you and your understanding of the world. You will experience immense growth. You will learn what you like, what you dislike, and the things in your life that matter the most. Equally important, you will also probably help others along the way.

So the next time you’re afraid to try something new, confront your fears and try it. Sure, you might experience failure or defeat, but that is okay. I have experienced it more times than I can count (on and off the ice), but experiencing failure and defeat is necessary to grow and learn. That is what life is all about—learning about yourself and doing what you love.

Now, make that jump… you never know what is waiting for you when you land.

-Julian Hoffman

Need someone to push you to take that next risk? Our team of admissions advisors at ReadyEdgeGo can work with you to set personalized goals you can achieve.

Sarah Gooch

Essay Editor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: I have five years' experience in coaching student writing, but this is my first year with ReadyEdgeGo.

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love helping students find depth and meaning in their own stories—but I also just love it when they make me laugh!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In theory, I enjoy painting and writing poetry, but these days I actually spend most of my free time socializing or watching movies with my husband.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Don't just focus on achieving top grades and credentials because they look good on applications, or your education will be meaningless. The numbers and awards have their place, but stay connected to your sense of curiosity, discovery, excitement, and wonder so that the content you're learning is constantly transforming you—it's something you care about, something you remember after the final exam. Work on the aspects of yourself no one can measure, like integrity, wisdom, kindness, and compassion, so that you're not only developing your academic and career potential but also investing in the type of adult you're going to be, the person you'll have to live with after you clock out every day for the rest of your life.

Doing the hard inner work of building your character and learning deeply instead of just earning grades will set you up for a satisfying, well-rounded life. Strange as it sounds, it will also put you ahead in your academic and career goals, because colleges and hiring managers aren't looking for an empty set of data on a spreadsheet; they want a fully fleshed-out person marked by passion, creativity, and a story no one else has lived.

So go on studying hard for tests, but also spend some time asking yourself what matters in life and who your role models are. Read up on topics that amaze you, and build something incredible just for fun. Cultivate that spark of joy you feel when you're immersed in a subject that fascinates you. If you can hit that balancing act of doing your homework and meeting deadlines but also investing in the kind of person you want to be, then trust that all the rest will follow: schools will recognize you as a dynamic, all-star person, and you will also build a life of happiness, close relationships, and peace.

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