I am a journalism major, but I hate writing news stories. I like to help others, but I hate talking to people I don’t know. I like to be involved, but I hate attending general body meetings and putting myself out there. I am probably the most contradictory person in the world because my list goes on — no seriously, I can keep going. I want to work for a fashion magazine one day, but I don’t even consider myself fashionable and I haven’t picked up TeenVogue or Glamour in months (I’ve been busy).

Regardless of my hopes and dreams being challenged by my horrible personality traits, I have recently broken through some of these barriers that I create for myself and I could not be more proud. Rather than just telling you what has been happening, I'm going to share more of what I have learned, in hopes that this will encourage you to want to live differently and outside your comfort zone.

Be willing to feel dumb

There is no sugar coating when it comes to living a more bold and courageous lifestyle. As a second generation Latin American, I don’t consider myself a fluent Spanish speaker. I also don’t think I can dance very well. But while I was in Cuba, I made myself vulnerable to both those things. Even though I felt stupid when I didn’t know what I was doing, I had fun in learning to accept the process. I held conversations with my taxi drivers, bargained with vendors and took a salsa class. These moments were scary and intimidating, but I knew that to overcome my fears, I had to accept and embrace these awkward feelings.

Take it step by step

As opposed to trying to conquer the world in a day, be honest with yourself and see what opportunities you are not taking. Define your fears. Once I defined mine, I did not make it my mission to tackle these things as if this were some sort of bucket list. Instead, I put myself in situations that would help me confront them. I am doubtful of my writing, I don’t like going to new places alone and I can get intimidated very easily. To discipline myself in becoming more confident, I applied for an internship seminar in Cuba, reached out to a publication I have always read, but never felt as though I could write for. It’s not a matter of doing what you’re afraid of just to do it, but to teach yourself that you are more capable than you think.

Get ready to flourish

Each time I decided to do something I had yet to do or was afraid to do, I came out stronger and more courageous than ever. I recently started working for TheTabRutgers. As a contributing writer, you have ideas you pitch and have a week before it’s due. However, during the week, there are random events that occur on campus that you must be ready to write about. Thankfully, there were other students who always volunteered themselves to cover a quick story within a few hours, but eventually, I got tired of hiding behind those students. When a crime was committed on campus and my editor asked who could take it, I put on my big girl pants and submitted the piece in a half hour — it got over 3,000 views and my editor offered me an internship.

Once you decide what you want from your life and you go after it, you just keep going. After I had that experience with TheTabRutgers, I always offer my assistance for quick write-ups. After leaving the country for the first time this past summer — mind you, it was Cuba and I only spoke to my parents once within two weeks — I now want to study abroad for a year. You just keep going and little by little, you tackle each and every doubt and fear that is left in you. Look at life like an opportunity and don’t let fear steal you from the freedom you were created for.