In Brookfield, Wisconsin, the beginning of June is a festival season. More specifically, SJV season. SJV is the acronym for a Church that hosts the most popular festival in Brookfield, and it's one of the biggest events for teenagers. Everyone goes during the night when the stars and lights are shimmering and dressed in the trendiest clothes (Aka Birkenstocks, off the shoulder tops, and high-waisted jean shorts), it's Coachella but Brookfield version. At the festival, there are obviously smaller rides for children, but then there are the big daring rides for the older kids like The Zipper, Pharaoh's Fury, and Freak Out. There are two things that I hate: Falling and spinning, and what do you know, that is every festival ride ever. Festivals and I are just not meant to be, especially to throw in the fact that I get motion sickness very easily. But this year in particular, I decided to face my fear and ride one of the most daring rides at the carnival, Freak Out. Freak Out is falling and spinning combined, and you go really, really high into the air while hanging upside down. The whole night my friends tried to get me to go on different rides, and of course, I kept saying no, as the last few times I had ridden on a ride like Pharaoh's Fury, it did not end well. Finally, when it came to the near end of the night, I decided I should ride Freak Out just to face my biggest fear of falling. The scariest part of any ride is being strapped in, and just waiting for the festival workers to start the ride. You just start thinking "I could leave, I could get out, I don't have to do this", but have to physically will yourself to stay in the seat. I kicked off my shoes, pulled on the shoulder rests holding me to make sure they were tight, and prayed that I would make it out alive. When the ride started, it was fine. A breezy back and forth like a calm pendulum swing, and then the pendulum got significantly more intense. I'll be honest, I closed my eyes for a large portion of the ride, it helped calm me down, and made me feel like I was flying instead of falling. The ride was a whole less worse than I had previously thought, and when I got off, I was filled with adrenaline. I honestly felt like I could do anything, I had already beaten my biggest fear after all! That's why I would say face your biggest fear (If you can of course) because you will leave the sitution feeling more empowered, bold, and brave.
Sheetal Tadiparty
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