Don’t Be Afraid to Take Risks by Ransom

Don’t Be Afraid to Take Risks by Ransom - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I could travel back in time and give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be this: don't be afraid to take a risk. For a time, I made decisions based on what felt safe. I said I was being practical, but secretly I knew I was fleeing from the unknown. Looking back, I wish I had trusted myself more—especially when it came to figuring out what to do after high school.

When I first went to college, I chose a major that I believed was safe. It was not something I was interested in, but something I knew would lead to a job. That was the goal, wasn't it? Get a degree, get a job, and move on with life. The problem was, I did not enjoy what I was doing. I pushed through, telling myself it was all part of growing up—sometimes you do what you don't want to do. But after graduation and a year working in the field, I knew I couldn't go any further in that direction.

It was a hard thing to come to terms with. I'd spent years working toward something that, in the end, didn't feel like the best decision. I wondered if I'd wasted time. But most importantly, this is what I did next: I took a gamble. I changed tacks and applied to grad school in a completely different field—something that I was actually passionate about. It was scary. I was relinquishing a sure salary and moving into something more unpredictable. But for the first time, I felt like I was moving towards a future that I actually wanted.

That decision taught me a valuable lesson: playing it safe isn't always what makes you happy. It might be more comfortable in the short term, but in the long term, it can hold you back. If I could go back in time and give advice to my former self, I'd say it's okay not to have everything figured out. It's okay to take a chance on something you love, even if it doesn't guarantee a sure thing.

Being a risk-taker does not imply being reckless. It implies being honest with yourself about what you want—and being courageous enough to go for it, even when you do not know the result. Sometimes the biggest risk is staying in something that does not make you happy, just because it looks more secure.

So to my younger self: trust your instincts. Don't be scared to take the uncertain route if it feels right. You'll struggle along the journey, but you'll learn, grow, and hopefully find something that will make it all worthwhile. That initial risk could just set you on a path to exactly where you're meant to be.