Cameron Bates
PreAp English 1
Period 5
2-15-15
The Effects of Fear
“Come on, James, let’s do it,” Connor encouraged his friend who was afraid to go skydiving. Reluctantly, James agreed and experienced the thrilling adrenaline rush of a new experience. Since James listened to his friend instead of his fear, he enjoyed a new adventure as well as gained strength of mind. Fear can affect people’s lives by not only bringing paranoia, but also developing courage.
Fear can affect people by allowing the paralyzing grip of paranoia to weigh them down. For example, several years ago I decided to try out for the Little Necks football team. I was excited to make the team as backup to the older quarterback. Practices were fun as I learned the plays and helped direct the team. Game days were another story as I watched the quarterback get tackled play after play. When the time came for me to go in, after the quarterback was injured, I played tentatively because I was paranoid that I would be injured as well. Later on in the game, the coaches called for me to go into the game again. I was paralyzed on the bench; I couldn’t move. In addition to this example, a boy moving to a new school for the first time can experience paranoia in what may happen to him at school. For example, he could dread going through the whole school year without gaining any new friends, he could fear getting bullied or beat up, or he could experience trepidation at the thought of being lost in his new campus. The adversity of the unknown can affect the way he looks at the new possibility of fun and excitement. No matter the situation, fear intimidates people and keeps them from the abundant life that is waiting for them.
However, people do not have to remain paralyzed in the paranoia. I was blessed to have someone in my life that spoke truth and helped me view my football experience honestly. Coaches were teaching me how to take a tackle. The linemen were strong and working hard to protect me. Also, one of my favorite books tells me that angels have charge over me to keep me safe. Saturating my mind with these truths fought the fear inside by developing the courage necessary to defeat it. In the same way, Frederick Douglass became tired of his time in slavery so he decided to allow courage to build inside himself as he ran from his owner not fearing the punishment of his capture. Fear helped Douglass grow courage and gain the life of the free man. Therefore, taking proactive steps to confront fear will allow strength to develop into courage.
Just as James found exhilaration, I found strength, and Douglass found freedom; everyone can find an escape from the paranoia of fear as they develop courage. Although fear seems to be a natural response to new situations and the unknown, it should not be allowed to permeate every area of our being. Friends, parents, authors and the wisdom they all share can help us end the negative effects of fear and bask in the strength of the courage we find.