Fear. In recent weeks fear has been rampant among us all, whether it is fear of a gunman, bombings, elections, laws or the Zika virus. There is a lot facing us in these troubling times, and it can be easy to only think of these negative things. But we must remember to live our lives.

I had a few experiences in the last few weeks that really put fear in the front of my mind. First, I was at summer gym. The class was just sitting in our teacher’s room taking a break, waiting for lunch. Our teacher picked up the room’s phone and then quickly asked if everyone was in the room and if not where they were. One of my friends asked, “Is something happening? Are we going to be shot?” Now, she half-kidding but only half. And I realized that I had been thinking the same thing. Even when I don’t realize it, when I’m relaxed with my friends, I am seconds from thinking the worst. I realized how sad that is, I go to a good school, where I have friends, opportunities and activities. I have been trained to fear a phone call.

This week I had another scary moment. I was driving home and I noticed a large truck. I continued, just noting all the work the person had done to it. Then when I got home I suddenly realized the truck was still behind me, and as I stopped to go into my garage and the truck pulled into a parking lot across the street. I went back and forth, when I got in the garage, from fear to thinking I was paranoid. I ended up calling my dad who came out to watch me as I walked to the house. The truck sat there for a while, and even though I was home with my dad and cousins, I was still afraid. It ended up that the truck was there to pick up their kid or something, and it was just a coincidence. I had to stop and wonder if my male friends, who I just left at rehearsal, if they had those fears on their way home. Do they call their parents if a truck parks nearby at night? Do they get advice from their cousins to always look around before leaving the garage at night? Are they taken seriously, like I was, to think a truck might have followed them home?

I don’t know if there is a good answer to some of these problems. All I know is that you can’t let it consume you. Don’t let things that are unfair or scary ruin your life. Yes, you should be cautious, but you have to live. Don’t let it be the only thing you think about.

There are some things that can help you not focus on fear. The first thing I recommend is to take precautions, and trust your gut. Next though, is to not focus on it. Enjoy your life. Look at the beautiful things, because otherwise you’ll miss them. Make sure you don’t let fear lead to hate. I truly believe people are inherently good, no matter their race, religion, etc. If someone is spreading fear, make sure you know why, and don’t except hate at face value. In the face of fear I went to my trusted family. This is what we must do. Come together. Don’t blame each other, or find someone you don’t understand to turn into a scapegoat. The only way we can overcome our fears is to come together and improve.