Greatest Fear

Mazandrea Guiam
Class 151B-20
Essay #2, Prompt #1

Trying Something Out For the First Time

Everyone has their biggest fears, and growing up, mine was to experience a rollercoaster ride. My fear for heights has always made a big impact on me. From being not able to look down from a bridge for more than ten seconds to still getting petrified when that elevator ride gives that “floating” feeling, being afraid of heights tend to always make me different from others. It made me feel shameful every once in a while whenever my friends were in my presence and all they talked about was how much they enjoy riding roller coasters. It sure made me feel like an outcast and terribly uncomfortable since I always called myself “Ms. Who-Can’t-Even-Look-Down-A-Bridge”. Yes, I would even get mad at my own self for being afraid of heights. I’ve always been scared of change and was willing to stay in my comfort zone forever. I made a pact to myself that I will never ride roller coasters, ever. Before, I’ve always wondered how embarrassing it would be like if I ever went to an amusement park with my girl friends since they all had nothing to be afraid of while on the other hand, I did. Unfortunately it was for me, one summer day, my friends and I actually went to the amusement park, California’s Great America. When I first heard the plan, I knew I did not want to go and be any part of this trip whatsoever. However, since it was summer and my friends and I just wanted to be regular teenagers who always want to make the best out of everything, I gave in and actually decided to go with the girls. Excited for the junk food and quality time with my best friends, I sure was. Yet, I was also frightened and shaky regarding the roller coasters. I thought to myself that if these girls were going to force me to ride a roller coaster with them, they are not my true friends at all. The very first thing I noticed was everybody pointing at the roller coasters as if they all wanted to ride them excitedly. I was pretty sure they were but that’s when my head start going crazy. Why? They’re just roller coaster, people! There’s nothing great about them! We should just shut the whole park down and let’s just enjoy the great pancakes at IHOP across the street! Once again, they’re just roller coasters! I was literally yelling at them in my head. Within the first thirty minutes we were at the park, my gals and I just strolled around the park with cotton candy on our hands, picked on little kids, and played the mini games that gave out terribly small prizes here and there. I was definitely enjoying every single minute of the trip until one of my good friends, Jonah, brought up the two words which in my dictionary never existed. “Roller coasters! Ooh! Let’s ride a roller coaster now! It’s the perfect time!” Jonah suggested as she pointed at the Vortex, one of the very well-known roller coasters at the park that happens to be the most thrilling. There again with the pointing. Of course, every one else agreed while I just stood there and nodded my head with a fake smile. I couldn’t tell them that I was afraid of heights because I was scared that it would ruin everyone's fun. Everyone would have to hold back on riding roller coasters just for me and I wouldn't want that kind of shameful gut feeling. When we were standing in line for the first rollercoaster, I tried to keep my cool. I tried to act natural and unafraid. My friends would try to make conversation with me to pass the time standing in line. Because I was so nervous, I would respond back with short answers with my palms all sweaty. As time passed, the line progressed and we got closer to the roller coaster. The closer we got to the ride, the more nerve racking I was. My fake smile soon turned into a real frown. A nervous frown, that is. My heart started to pound against my chest but I still acted cool around my friends. As I sat down and the park worker strapped me in, I decided to pray hard. I was so scared that I was pretty convinced I was going to die. The ride began and we immediately started to go up this large incline. So much was going through my head since this was my first rollercoaster. As the car finally reached the top of the incline, there was a short pause of silence and a beautiful view of all of Santa Clara. Then, back to reality. The rollercoaster car started to lean forward and I could hear people who sat at the front screaming. I didn’t know what they were screaming about. Way in the back, where I was sitting, I couldn’t even see the steep hill that was ahead of me. Suddenly, a rush of air blasted through my hair and I was accelerating from zero to sixty in a split second. I was facing completely parallel to the ground travelling so fast, it felt like I just broke the sound barrier. I felt a rush of adrenaline in my gut. This is where I realized that I was actually enjoying this. Where I realized that this ride was completely safe and I wasn’t going to die at all. From that point on, I was, in fact, having the most fun I have had in months. I was soaring through loops and flips. Screams turned into laughter. My grip from the handle bars loosened and my arms were straight up embracing the speeding winds shooting towards me. I was having the time of my life. Everyone has a different story to tell about how they got over their biggest fear and mine happened to change my whole life. After that first roller coaster ride, I did not care about the mini games that were scattered all over the park. I wanted to ride the big kids ride all day. I didn’t even care if my friends came with me or not. After such an experience, roller coasters were never such a huge deal for me every again. Going to Great America became more exciting. Personally, I wouldn’t even mind having my future wedding at Disneyland and just ride the rides after the ceremony. Sometimes, we’re so afraid of trying new things that we end up being stuck in our comfort zone in awhile. All it takes is one try- one try and it can change your whole perspective.