Kimberly Von Randow ‘28
Opinions Editor
Everywhere you look, there’s something new to try — a hobby you’ve always been meaning to pick up, a job or internship you want to apply to even though you think you are underqualified, a person in class you might want to know better. And yet, most of us hesitate. We tell ourselves we’ll do it later, when we’re more prepared, when we’ve done more research, when we feel “ready.” But the truth is, readiness never really comes. We are held back by fear; a fear of failure, of imperfection, of breaking the invisible barriers we have built for ourselves.
Common excuses such as “I’m just being realistic” or “now’s not the right time” simply aren’t enough to justify standing still when what we really want to do is so close. We convince ourselves that waiting is wisdom — that the next semester, the next promotion, or the next version of ourselves will somehow be braver. But let’s be honest: that mythical “ready” version of us never actually shows up, we have to become them. There will always be one more skill to learn, one more reason to wait, and another excuse to stay comfortable. And comfort can be surprisingly persuasive and hard to keep away from. It tells us that sticking with what we know is smart and safe. But comfort also has a way of turning into quicksand, you settle in for “just a little while,” and suddenly years have gone by in the same place, doing the same things. The longer we stay still, the harder it becomes to move and change.
The irony is that the people we admire most — the artists, innovators, leaders — wouldn’t have gotten anywhere if they waited for the elusive “perfect moment.” They tried, failed, and tried again. Every accomplishment we celebrate came from someone’s willingness to do something, even if they thought it wouldn’t work. Their failure became evidence that they cared enough to begin.
The truth is, most of life’s best things start with risk. Applying to a school you didn’t think you’d get into, taking the job you’re not quite qualified for, or even just taking up a new sport – these are the moments that move us forward. We don’t need to be fearless. We just need to act before fear decides for us.
So as the title suggests, curiosity didn’t kill the cat. It made it brave enough to explore. Fear is what keeps the rest of us sitting on the porch, staring out at a world full of things we might love, might learn, might even fail at beautifully. The longer we sit there, the more the unknown starts to look dangerous instead of exciting. So step off the porch, and seize the day!
Featured image courtesy of LinkedIn
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