Taking Chances

Risks are one thing I’ve shied away from for too long. Saying no to opportunities because I wasn’t sure of the outcome, not speaking up because I didn’t want things to possibly go wrong—it’s not the person who I want to be. 

So what if I’m underqualified for the internship I’m interested in? So what if the person I want to introduce myself to immediately forgets my name and we never talk again? The “what-ifs” that fly through my brain won’t cease unless I suck it up and take that leap. 

I could regurgitate the classic “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” or “The biggest risk a person can take is to do nothing,” but in my experience, there’s a bit more to it. Don’t get into your head, muster up that courage (because you’re stronger than you know), give yourself a 5 second countdown, and do it. It’s a strategy I use for everything from introducing myself to a professor after class to taking online technical interviews for companies to use while screening.

And I understand that it may not be as easy as Nike’s slogan makes it out to be; there could be substantial money, time, and energy going into the risk, making it a much harder decision on whether to pursue it. Turn it into a calculated risk: write out the pros/cons and possible outcomes, talk to someone about it like friends/family or an adviser, and consider your gut feeling. For example, if you’re contemplating between two internships, try writing out what you like and dislike for each company and your potential position, try to talk to past interns or alumni at both companies, and think about which one you’re currently leaning toward and why. 

So what am I trying to say? That if you want to do it, you should go for it. Go for it and do it to the best of your ability. And if it doesn’t work out, figure out why not, remember what you learned, and try again.

Debrini Sarkar