Fear is something that holds you back and stops you from pursuing your dreams. Fear is the invisible shackles that restrain you from greatness and make you settle for mere mediocrity. Fear is the ominous thing that makes you think every little failure of yours will be the end of the world. Fear is what makes you have that constant ache right in the pit of your very being.

Last week in one of my classes, the professor stood up in front of the room and pinpointed each student one at a time and asked, "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" I remember hearing this question when I was younger and would usually say something along the lines of "I'd go skydiving" or "I'd talk to my crush." However, hearing this question now really made me think long and hard. I'm a terribly nervous person with anxiety problems that sometimes prevent me from doing the things that are what I need to do whether they're the best for me or not. Life is about experiences and lessons.

So, I decided to find out from some awesome people what they would do if they weren't afraid....

"If I weren't afraid, I would go back to being the person I used to be. I'd stop giving into the demons in my head, I'd try out for a singing show, I'd dye my hair purple, and I'd love myself 100%. I also wouldn't constantly be worrying about letting the people I love down and being a total failure at life."

"The first thing I would do is ask my girlfriend to marry me."

"If I weren't afraid I'd live day to day without taking my anti-anxiety medication with me everywhere for the fear of another panic attack, and I wouldn't think twice about the choices I make that I know deep down are right."

"I would freely express my thoughts and opinions without worrying about what others may think."

"Drop out and work on the startup my friends and I were working on this spring. I'm afraid a tech bubble is coming and I'll need my degree, but having a startup is also a dream."

"EVERYTHING."

"I would hike the whole Appalachian trail."

"I'd face them as if I were walking through fire. Tough and non-feeling."

"All things equal economically, I would be high school History or English teacher and a football, baseball or basketball coach. All things are not equal economically, however."

"1. I would tell handsome guys I thought they were handsome. 2. I would travel solo more often 3. I would go without makeup sometimes."

"Kiss all the girls I can."

"If I wasn't afraid in the present then I would take as many AP classes and wouldn't have to think of failing. I would be able to tell the boy that I like how I actually feel about him without the fear of him rejecting me. I would be able to tell my fake friends how I really feel about them. I would be able to go to any college that I got into without the fear of the amount of loans I would take out. I would be able to do what I ACTUALLY want to do when I grow up without the fear of thinking I won't cut it. I wouldn't be afraid of disappointing my parents. Most of all I wouldn't be afraid of failing at life."

"If I weren't afraid I would ride roller coasters and do more things that give you an adrenaline rush."

"If I weren't afraid, I would: 1. Speak about my political beliefs to my friends. 2. Speak about my religious beliefs to everyone. 3. Tell everyone to stop complaining about the election on Facebook. 4. Audition for many dance positions/opportunities 5. Skydive"

"If I wasn't afraid I'd stand up for myself in times when I couldn't speak up."

"I would wear whatever I want because there's so much pressure put on girls to look a certain way"

"If I weren't afraid I would become a public speaker and bring awareness to the problems the world faces today without the fear of being assassinated or hated for my views. I would try to bring peace to different parts of the world."

"I would sleep with the lights off at night!"

"Ok if I weren't afraid then I would be able to stand up to people when they are hurting me emotionally, I wouldn't be afraid of voicing my opinion and to not care what other people think."

"I would just up and go; maybe start a new life or maybe come back."

"If I wasn't afraid I would try and make more conversation with people I don't know.Lots of times I'm afraid I won't be accepted because I'm different.Beyond that, if I wasn't afraid, I would drop out of school and pursue my dreams of becoming a touring musician. My biggest non-life-threatening fears involve acceptance and failure."

It's okay to be afraid—everyone is. But it is not okay to let fear control your life. You must always strive for complete and utter happiness. Refuse to be tied down any longer. This is your life to live, so live it to the fullest and take advantage of everything it has to offer.