Having been in college for a good week now, I can honestly say I’ve never been happier.
The atmosphere, the opportunities, the people, it’s simply electrifying.
While it’s fair to say I’m still in my “honey-moon” phase, I’ve never been more enthusiastic about my future and my life.
In just one week, I’ve been able to connect with countless individuals, play a ton of sports, grow, and just have fun.
I’ll admit, I was somewhat nervous about starting a new chapter in my life, and leaving my family behind in China, yet I did my best to remain optimistic and embrace the change.
I was often bombarded with a plethora of negative thoughts, yet I did whatever I could to quickly squash them.
I have only just begun to bloom.
The Roommate
One of my biggest concerns about college, was the adjustment of living with a roommate.
To be honest, the thought of living with someone I’d never met before, slightly intimidated me.
I remember I often caught myself thinking,
“This isn’t going to work out” “ We aren’t going to get along.”
Then I realized I was setting my-self up for failure. I did my best to remind myself that all relationships begin in the mind.
Positive thoughts breed authentic relationships. Negative thoughts block connectivity. You always have a choice.
As a result of my adjustment in thinking, my roommate Lindsay and I instantly connected.
Within in an hour of meeting, we both had shared our life stories with one another, while in the process creating a bond that will last for years to come.
Turns out my doubts and worries never manifested. Was it the result of my change in thinking? I think so.
Never underestimate the power of your thoughts. Your thoughts construct your reality.
The Dance
One of the first nights on campus, a school dance was held in the gym.
In hopes of meeting people, my roommate Lindsay and I decided to attend with a couple of friends. What followed next was a moment of pure adrenaline.
In order not to embarrass myself, I stood quietly on the sidelines watching the crowd dance.
While I was standing on the side, Lindsay was taking the dance floor by storm. Literally flowing with the beats.
His moves were full of energy. He was alive.
I remember watching him and just feeling so inspired.
Was this because Lindsay had no fears? No.
It happened because he didn’t listen to them. He didn’t think, he was living in the moment.
After a while, Lindsay noticed I was just sitting on the sidelines, and came up to me and said something I won’t soon forget,
“I’d rather make a fool out of myself dancing then be a fool sitting on the sidelines.”
While the comment was lighthearted, the phrase kept me tossing and turning all night. And while I may not be the best dancer in the world, I thoroughly enjoyed embarrassing myself for the rest of the evening 
Dance Your Fears Away
Do you often not try because you’re afraid to look like a fool? Do you let your fears prevent you from having fun?
Pay no attention to those damaging thoughts in your head. Instead aim to express your highest self.
Growth doesn’t happen by being timid. Growth happens when you dare to experience.
Your being is designed to glow. How bright is entirely up to you.
Don’t wait on the sidelines looking like a fool. Get up and dance your fears away.
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Bud, I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying school! 4 years go by fast, so enjoy every bit of it, including the opportunity to learn! I look back on my college experience with thoughts of how much more fulfilling it would have been if I studied a subject that I was more passionate about.
Thanks Vin..
I appreciate the support. I’ve never been more excited. I owe that feeling largely to my attitude
Hi Bud
Just came across your site..inspiring stuff! I really love the look of your site too.
Look forward to reading more from you.
Jen
Hey Jen! I’m glad you find my writing inspiring! It really means a lot.
My friend, well dancing isn’t everything, well done on getting up there and embarrassing yourself. Dancing in public still remains a ridiculous issue for me.
Whats up my friend, glad to hear college is going great. This was a great story glad your getting out of your comfort zone. Coming from someone who had both an amazing academic and social experience, make sure you take advantage of all these opporutnities. When it’s all said and done you will not remember being in class learning complex financial formulas but the social life experiences you had. Balance is key. Make it a point to connect with as many people as possible, play in intramural sports, join clubs, etc. If I could compare my experience I would say It was like the movie “Van Wilder”. In fact you should watch it, if you make a little effort you will have a very fulfilling experience.
P.S. You will never be around so many beautiful girls in one place again, it really is the easiest place to meet and get to know woman. I suggest you pick up a few books on getting a better understanding of woman (if you need some ideas send me an email). While your buddies are all talking about wishing they could be with her, you will be walking across campus getting bewildered looks from you friends. lol
Hey Sweetie, Love the article it is well written and inspiring, I would of loved to be a bug on the wall watching! Maybe you could video some of these moments and share on here that would be great to see!! Keep sending me these as I love to read what you write!! And it reminds me of how wonderful you are!! Keeping positive thoughts has always helped me with moving so much and living seas!! LOVE YOU BUNCHES!!!! MOM
Hi Bud,
Fantastic story! I loved “Dance your fears away” please send all of your articles to me. You have great talent and I look forward to reading more. Keep up the good work Can’t wait to see you over the weekend
Your Cardinal buddy
Love
Aunt Ann
hey bud!
haha… awwwsome to hear how crazy excited you are about college. i’m at university too… and i went to an all-boys school so first impresison was a buffet of yumness and uncountable potential adventures. factoring in the fact that google and youtube were started by college students, well, …excitement explosions
just make sure you capitalise fully. i’d ask myself, “create the legend or live a lame life, it’s up to me”
funny about your roommate considerations cos one of my best mates just flew outta south africa to study in iowa, rooming with someone he’d never met… and once he got there said it was the best thing ever. he went to boarding school with me so he prolly was used to random people and not much personal space but i think either way it’ll be cool. all perspective. if the roommate is timid and nerdy then capitalise and get him to do your grunt classwork and if he’s a pimp-player then pay attention and learn. there’s always a positive
crazy that you had a dance on first night. crazy cool if it wasn’t a formal dance, just a get together jam. i can def picture how you’d be daunted by it without knowing peeps.
know the feeling all too well actually. used to be fully shy and embarassed and full self-conscious. couldn’t dance in front of anybody at all. used to think i couldn’t dance actually. it was just all self-limiting rubbish. like whispering when you have the potential to shout but are too scared to offend people by talking loud.
also digg the way you put the feeling of watching your friend OWN the dancefloor. that’s kinda how i went from crazy shy, no friends, couldn’t dance, full loser, no girlfriends etc… to dancing in front of the whole university in a dance competition and dating a miss-teen-south-africa finalist… what happened was i was failing school and i started working cos of pressure from my mom and eventually picked my marks up. then figured, hey, used to think i couldn’t do well at school, maybe the other things i thought i couldn’t do well in… i actually can do well at. i had looked to people who did well academically and that helped me sort out my results so tehn i just looked at people who did well socially, danced well etc and just blatantly copied what they did to get that scope that it didn’t matter. even though i was copying their moves, i realised the fear is waaay worse than it actually is to do it. then once you realise that you can express who you really are.
““I’d rather make a fool out of myself dancing then be a fool sitting on the sidelines.”
- SO true. man. always see it when i go out to nightclubs etc. all the guys are standing on the sidelines getting drunk and watching spectator mode. all “cool”. just standing there watching pretending that they’re the coolest people evar. being all “james bond” as though girls will come to them. spectator mode. be a player not a spectator. worst case scenario, you have more fun…
full raw expression.
awwwsome post
keep well mate
alex – unleashreality
“I’d rather make a fool out of myself dancing then be a fool sitting on the sidelines.”
– that’s a deep though there, and I agree. Doing something imperfectly is still better than not doing it at all. Another positive side of your situation is the fun part. If you make a fool out of yourself dancing, you can have fun, laugh at yourself, and engage with others. On the other hand, you can hardly say: “Haha, it’s so funny that I’m too scared to move my butt to the dance floor.” That’s hardly funny at all. It’s cowardliness. I’m glad you had a good time after all, and thank you for sharing this great tip.
Hey Bud,
Great post. I think you touched on a topic that many people have experienced but have difficulty putting into words. You did a great job of summing it up. I had a similar experience at my cousin’s wedding in Santa Barbara recently. I had never danced before in public really but for some reason the joy and excitement of a wedding influenced me to let loose and just have fun. At first I was worried what people would think, but as it turned out people loved it and were talking about my dancing for weeks afterwards.
Thanks again for another great post!
hey bud,
That was a really great post =) my favorite sentence from the whole post was “Your thoughts construct your reality.” I really couldn’t agree more.
I am looking forward to reading more of your posts, you are doing an amazing job =)