Senior Speech: Caleigh Shulas

Why are we scared to ask our parents if our friends can stay over because of a possible “No"? Why are some people scared to ask their boss for that promotion they know they deserve?

Too often, we assume the worst instead of hoping for the best. Fear holds us back, and as we step into the “real world,” it is our job to turn fear into something useful.

Fear is present in all of our lives. No matter our confidence on the outside, it is inescapable. Fear makes us anxious. It can overwhelm simple situations, like something as small as picking an outfit, because we’re scared of judgment.

Our response to fear determines how far we will go in life. If we’re too scared to start or too scared to fail, we never take the first step. No one has everything figured out. The best we can do is prepare ourselves and keep moving forward.

For the past four years, before any big assignment, my mom heard my frustration and anxiety. She watched me treat every test and project like a life or death situation, and she helped me shift my perspective. When I found myself afraid, she always had responses:

“I don’t want to fail,” I said. “But it’s part of growth.”

“I can’t mess up.” “But you’ll learn from your mistakes.”

“Mom, I’m scared of taking this big risk.” “Regret hurts more.”

I really tried to prove my mom wrong, but she always had a solution to my fear. There is almost always a solution to things. It’s just about how visible the solution is and how much we try to find it.

As we go to college, trade school, the military, or wherever the wind takes us, we must remember that the best way to conquer fear is not to do it alone. Our friends and families who want us to succeed, who hold us accountable, who will get us out of bed on the hardest days, that is who will help us conquer our fears and solve our problems when our minds are clouded with anxiety.

If we acknowledge what we are scared of, fear will stop controlling us. Fear should only be a speed bump in the road, not a stop sign. We can channel our fear into excitement for what the future holds. When you turn fear into focus and determination, you are unstoppable.

If there’s one thing you take from me today, let it be this: the regret of never trying will hurt more than failure, so try anyway. Don’t let fear stop you from living your life to the fullest.

2026, you finally made it.