Read the responses to this week’s Write to Win prompt and vote for the answer you like most using this form.
Milky Way: I used to think that kayaking was one of the most terrifying activities I could try. I was hesitant because I was scared of sports and water-based activities. However, in 2023, a friend invited me to join a kayaking event. With encouragement from the coach, I decided to give it a try for the first time. To my surprise, it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.
Mercury: I was terrified to buy a secret second SIM card because my parents strictly limit me to three gigabytes of data a month. I was afraid they would discover my transaction. Still, once I finally went through with it, I used the extra data to watch a series of science videos and scroll through reels without the anxiety-inducing “data warning” popping up. It was incredibly fun. The sheer freedom of using my phone without constantly checking the settings felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Plus, the thrill of hiding it from my parents made it even more exciting.
Jupiter: During the last academic year, my school held auditions for a drama production. I was interested but also nervous and doubtful about my acting skills. However, my friends encouraged me to go for the auditions anyway. To my surprise, my energetic audition impressed the directors, and I landed the main role. What started as fear turned into joy, making me realise that everything is new and intimidating only until you give it a try.
Earth: I used to find the idea of eating alone at a busy restaurant quite intimidating, feeling completely exposed without a friend to accompany me. However, I recently asked myself: does that really matter? After trying it, I realised that nobody was actually paying attention to me; they were all focused on their own meals. By tuning into the comforting background noise of the restaurant, I was able to relax and fully enjoy my food.
Venus: Standing in front of a crowd terrified me, but with my parents’ strong support, I decided to try public speaking. To my surprise, it wasn’t scary at all; in fact, I enjoyed the experience a lot! That single step gave me the confidence to join the debate team and participate in speech competitions, eventually winning several awards. What began as a daunting challenge became one of my greatest strengths.
Mars: I was always terrified of riding roller coasters, dreading the massive drops and dizzying loops. Last month, my friends finally convinced me to try one. As the train climbed, my hands shook with fear. However, during the sudden drops, I found myself laughing and screaming with joy instead of crying. It was incredibly thrilling, and now, I absolutely love roller coasters.
Neptune: I never thought jumping off a cliff would be exhilarating. It wasn’t a real cliff, but once I tried it, I could not stop. My parents took me to Aqua Splash once, and it was all fun and games until I had to decide how to get off the course: the slide or the cliff? The cliff was roughly two metres high, and the adrenaline rush was so intense that I could hardly move my legs. After a long queue formed behind me, I finally felt forced to jump. When I emerged from the water, I realised I missed the adrenaline rush and discovered just how fun jumping off a cliff could be.
Saturn: “I want to go home.” That was all I could think about as I stood atop a flume ride in Hong Kong. I had been dragged into this by my friends, but I finally took the plunge. As I raced down, my heart hammered against my chest. I felt a wave of weightlessness, and cold water splashed across my face. Surprisingly, an adrenaline rush surged through me, and my fear transformed into excitement! When the ride ended, I laughed, already eager to go again.
