In or Out?

How many people are willing to jump out of their comfort zones? I don't know the answer. But I know I would not have been in Seattle if I had not stepped outside my first comfort zone twelve years ago. When I was younger, I used to go with the flow because I had been programmed by Chinese traditional culture to follow the crowds for a steady life rather than taking any risks. I thought my whole life would be like the majority of people who were tangled with the daily grind and plain life. So, I had followed the defined rules and had gotten on the mundane bus before I graduated from university.

When I got my Master Degree in Law, I had reaped an opportunity to waive the National Graduate Entrance Examination (NGEE) to go to graduate school directly because I was the only one student who had consecutively achieved first-class scholarship in past four years. I had been hesitating for quite a while before I replied to the graduate school. A hint of unhappy and insecure sensation that I could not eradicate immersed into my mind. I didn't want to take this opportunity which was considered as a precious honor because I already had had my dream law school. Meanwhile, I was afraid of failure. The acceptance rate of my dream law school was only 10% in 2004.

My mother told me that I had been empowered professional knowledge and logical thinking to choose my way. I registered the NGEE and applied my dream law school.

However, I failed. The opportunity had already been taken by somebody else as well.

I indulged in a few bitter tears, and quickly started thinking about my future. What could I do, stay in my safe zone to hunt a regular job in my home city as all my friends had done or stick to my dream as an exception? I didn’t want my future was stuck because of my conservative concept and inner fear. I didn’t want to be a nine-to-five person in the rest of my life. The answer had already been in my heart. The condition was I had to cross the boundary of my comfort zone to take challenges.

I got my parents’ robust financial back; and I was encouraged to take my first challenge for pursuing my goal. I moved to the city where my dream university was located to devote myself to prepare the NGEE. I don't want to list how many challenges I had gone through in that year.
But, when I finally got the acceptance letter from my dream law school, the feeling of true happiness spread out to my whole body. I was aware of that consciously moving out my comfort zone to conquer challenges could make me happy. The most significant thing was it opened a new window for me to hone my wit and harness my skills. I acquired the unspeakable sweetness and energy from my first try.

If I hadn’t made my first move in 2004, I wouldn't have had motivation to break out of my comfort zones to explore my potential abilities and discover my inspiration in past twelve years. I guess I would still have taken the mundane bus without any ups and downs. However, I made it and I am in Seattle to take a new adventure.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FOB are Hungry.

Image
Manuel, a young Mexican software engineer, came to the United States in 2015. What to eat and where to eat became his foremost daily challenge. His intermediate English level couldn't fully support him to understand menus, order food, and have a conversation at a local market or restaurants. He even couldn't find authentic Mexican tacos. He missed his mom’s cooking so badly. His parents encouraged him not to give up and they would be his solid back with their unconditional love. Manuel didn't want to let his parents down. He told himself that he would lose this hard-earned opportunity if he couldn't overcome the food challenge. He started learning cooking, asking recipes from his mom. He tried harder to improve his English. He made friends, just like him, FOBs, from different countries. He finally found his way to suit himself into this new land, having a positive attitude and an open mind.  (Read the full story: http://bit.ly/2qM4yhW ) 
Read more

I Was Born That Way

Image
My food preference changed a lot after I moved to America. I didn't do it deliberately for a geographic or financial reason. How did this happen? I used to be a Western food addict. When I was younger, the biggest joy for me was when my parents brought me to McDonald's to have a big meal once I scored 100 on my final exams, as they promised. The greasy fried chicken wings, the crispy french fries, and the juicy nuggets filled in the best part of my childhood even though I was raised in a well-known gastronomical city that created tons of highly-acclaimed Chinese cuisines. But, my mother always affirmatively stated that I would appreciate Chinese traditional food one day. How could it be? McDonald's intrigued my curiosity about American food and Western pop culture. I dreamed of snuggling up on a soft couch, eating the fresh baked pizza, and watching the most popular American TV series. But, when I watched the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Seattle, all what I wan...
Read more

Thanksgiving Quiz

Image
Thanksgiving is a national holiday in China. You can easily buy turkey from supermarkets in China. Chinese people don't eat mashed potatoes in China. Chinese people make the same pumpkin pie as you eat in America.   Cyber Monday is the biggest online shopping day in China.  Check out your answers: 1. Thanksgiving is not a national holiday in China. 2. People who live in the big cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, can buy frozen turkey from imported supermarkets and order a turkey from a hotel restaurant. Or, they usually roast geese or chicken instead. But the best substitute food is roasted Peking Duck.  3. Chinese style mashed potatoes. It’s savory and not heavy as American style mashed potatoes by mixing with butter and cream.   4. Chinese pumpkin pie is fried, crispy outside, and soft inside by filling with sweet sauce, such as read bean. ...
Read more