Peter Gwin A Mystery Of Taking Risk

When I was ten years old, I broke my arm at a skate park. I developed a fear of falling

and failure for six years. When I was sixteen, I was involved in competitive downhill racing. The

sport is notorious for skating at high speeds, crashes, injuries, and even death. Both my parents

prohibited me for attending these events, but the thrill of speed and danger encouraged me to

disobey my parents. I competed in the race, survived without any injuries, came into third place

and basked in the fulfillment of accomplishment. Risky situations are opportunities of success or

failure. There is a big difference between risk taking and being stupid. Risk taking is part of our

human legacy, we have the ability to learn how to become
use to risk and mange the fear. Even

though it’s dangerous taking risk and sometimes safety is always first. Society would not have

progressed, if it weren’t for risk. I believe that facing fear and failure by taking risk will lead

anyone to success.
A risk is a situation involving exposure to danger and the potential to lose or gain

something of value. So why do people choose to take risk, knowing that they can lose at any

moment. In his article “The Mystery of Risk” by Peter Gwin, says, “Some of the motivations for

taking risk are obvious-financial reward, fame, political gain and saving lives.” Risk takers such

The Success of Risk Taking

as fishermen, professional racers, rock climbers, gamblers and stuntmen know that taking risk

can lead to extraordinary success or extraordinary failure. Mr. Gwin suggests a biological

explanation for why certain people tend to take dangerous risk. Neurotransmitter dopamine is a

chemical that causes one to feel good. In a sense dopamine is a drug, it’s responsible for the high

we feel when we engage in something daring. In the risk taker's brain such as a daredevils brain,

are more saturated with the chemical, causing them to keep taking risks and chasing the next

high. Dopamine drives people into taking risk and they can also control the fear by getting use to

it.

Humans have the ability to control a fear by becoming used to a particular risk.
Daniel

Kruger, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Michigan says, “When activities

become routine and familiar, we let our guard down, especially when nothing bad happens for

quite some time.” Evel Knievel is an example of a person who become used to dangerous

situations. The daredevil and his team spent months of attentive planing and preparation, using

mathematical equations and safety equipment, and practicing several jumps before the final

jump. It is important to remember that professionals do everything in order to minimize the risk

as mush as possible. So if a risk becomes a routine, the activity will become easier because of the

control over the fear. The risk may seem stupid because it’s dangerous, but it does not mean that

the risk should not be attempted.

Risk-avoiders believe that playing it safe, instead of taking risk, is the best choice. They

believe that taking risk is a stupid action, but there is a difference between taking risk and stupid

actions. Mr. Gwin says, “Adrenaline is designed to help us escape from danger.” For example,

the members of the television show “Jack Ass” engage in activities involving dangers stunts that

should never be attempted. The stunts always involve injuries and breaking the law. These

individuals are not risk takers, they are adrenaline junkies. A real risk taker has the desire to

venture past the limits of safety in pursuit of a rewarding experience. For instance, Allan

Cumming the first man to climb Everest, then ski all seven summits. Allan and his team climbed

the great mountain without the use of safety nets, no fixed lines established and freezing winds.

At 26,000 feet, with very little food, water and oxygen, the team decided to descent by ski. Allan

and his team survived the journey. The team had to risk there lives by either waiting for help or

descending down by skiing. Without taking risk, you automatically lose in any situation your in.

I came to realize that I was taking two risks, violating my parent’s rule, and jeopardizing

my body in a competitive race. After the race, I was approached by two men, who represented

Arbor Down Hilling Magazine and ask if they could set up an interview. This opportunity led to

many others, both my parents were proud of me for taking responsibilities into my own hands.

People need to expose themselves to risky situations in order to find opportunities.