Trying something new shouldn’t feel like a big deal, but it’s starting to feel that way. Whether it’s picking up a new hobby, trying a sport, or learning something completely new, there’s this unspoken rule that you should already be good at it. And if you’re not, it feels embarrassing, frustrating, and discouraging.
Part of the problem is how much we are constantly exposed to other people’s success on social media. It’s so easy to scroll past videos of people who are skilled and forget you’re only seeing the final result. You don’t see the mistakes and time it took them to get there. It’s easy to feel like starting from scratch isn’t worth the time when everyone else already seems so far ahead. Because of this, being a beginner often feels more intimidating than it should.
Society today has also made things more daunting through constant pressure from peers, social media, and even ourselves. Trying something new comes with the fear of looking inexperienced in front of others. Even simple things like joining a club for the first time or speaking up in class can feel uncomfortable because of the possibility of embarrassment. One athlete described how this pressure affected her when trying something new for the first time.
“When I first started badminton, I almost walked out of the gym. I saw that everyone else was so much better, and I thought I would look silly if I missed or people saw that I was a beginner,” freshman Jacklyn Cheng shared. “My heart was racing because I was scared I would disappoint my coach and be compared to the other players in my class.”
Her experience shows how pressure from others can make the beginning stage feel overwhelming and discouraging. Because of this pressure to fit in and to not stand out negatively, the purpose of being a beginner is defeated. The fear caused is what is actually stopping people, not the idea of starting something new itself.
However, avoidance can turn into multiple missed opportunities. Many people look back and wish they hadn’t given up or let fear hold them back, which is something I’ve fallen victim to myself.
“Sometimes we get offered solo spots for orchestra pieces, and I want to try out, but I get scared of being judged and how everyone else will see me,” freshman Tiffany He explained. “So I don’t audition, and then I regret it at the concert because that soloist could have been me.”
Her experience shows how fear of judgement can lead to regret and opportunities we let slip.
The truth is, nobody is going to be perfect at first. Every talented person, musician, author, and athlete got to where they are through hard work and by getting over their fear of looking “bad” or “embarrassing.”
Maybe the problem isn’t that being a beginner is hard, but rather society has made it feel way harder than it needs to be. If we help reduce the pressure to naturally and immediately be good at things, we can make it easier for people to start and keep going.
