Fear is dead once we step out of our comfort zone

2016 DSE Poems and Songs Question:

A famous songwriter once said, "Expose yourself to your deepest fear. After that, fear has no power."

How important is it for us to acknowledge the challenges we face and find ways to cope with them? Write an essay explaining your opinion with relevant examples from your personal experience.

Fear is dead once we step out of our comfort zone

"Fear is formidable" is how countless souls perceive fear. Irrefutably, everyone has to experience fear in order to flourish, but it is fear that often paralyses us, especially youngsters who are haunted by their future, featuring a job, a partner as well as setbacks, that hangs in the balance. Still, should we capitulate to fear and challenges or confront them squarely? Now, it's been my fervent belief that we should admit the inevitable hurdles ahead of us and figure out solutions.

Acknowledging the challenges we face beckons new friends, not human friends though. I am a person who has had his own trials and tribulations, and I have to confess that Mathematics has been one of the most agonising nemeses I have ever faced. I can still vividly recount my teacher bemoaning the many tests I had failed, and undoubtedly, his lamentations sounded stinging to me. Throughout junior forms, failing assignments, tests and even exams was the norm to me. Feeling impotent, I would always weep and sob at the sight of the terrifying red crosses on my Math tests. While Math was never a terrorist, I was so fearful of it, I would either ask someone to fill in for me whenever my teacher asked me to tell the class the solution to a particular question. I would also slack off in homework and keep whatever numbers at arm's length until right before the deadline. My class teachers, while trying their best to assuage my fears, also warned me of having to repeat a grade -- a sheer nightmare. But only when Form 4 approached, with more demanding passing requirements, did I realise fear had drawn boundaries around me. Boundaries that ruined my audacity to step out of my comfort zone to ask for assistance and try at least five difficult questions every day -- the sole means to success. All the while, I only dodged one bullet after another, but never confronted the monster head-on. Mustering up my courage, I familiarised myself with various exercises and committed to the five-questions-a-day practice, only to find that many questions resembled one another, which then put me at ease, no matter in tests or examinations. While in the end, I never stood out in Math, I began passing more tests at over 70 percent, which well surpassed my own expectations. Plus, I also ticked Math off of my "terror list", in turn befriending it. If I had never tamed my fear of Math and come up with any solutions, I would have never transcended the barriers and had any new friend.

What is more, admitting the impediments we face and tackling them will also boost our confidence. Now, should we uphold that faith in endurance or should we kneel to fear? It has to be the former. Diving used to be an invincible foe to me. Scenes of myself suffocated and gasping for air underwater, and diving talents nearby belittling me, would always deter me from jumping into the water. Pitched battles between fear and perseverance would play out every time I took swimming courses. Even with my coach holding up a torch of courage every step of the way, staring at the water below the springboard, I would still give in to fear and flee the springboard. But as time wore on, I was aware that lagging behind had done more harm than good, so I decided to give diving -- still a form of intimidation at the time -- a daring attempt. One balmy Friday, without my usual back-and-forth that my coach had grown weary of, I told myself, "You can do it", stretched my potential and dived straight into the cool water, astounding my friends. The moment I found myself finally in the water after lengthy struggles, I knew I had overcome my fear unscathed. The fear was instantly stifled. Rejuvenated, I gave it another try right away, as my friends and coach applauded. However traumatised I was because of the unnecessary fear, I've since grown to believe in myself, as I now consider, not fear, but myself invincible given I know one day, success will beat a path to my door, however stiff the challenges may appear.

Fear does scar every human on his/her way to triumph. But instead of letting fear assail us, we should launch our own offensive against it. And by doing so, not only can we prevent lifelong scars, but also fear will undoubtedly be well and truly dead.