Taking Risks

Today, I took a risk by downloading snapchat, aka my first form of “social media.” I don’t exactly know why I did it. Maybe it was because I wanted to have a big change. Maybe it was because I just wanted to “fit in.”

I learned today that taking risks isn’t always a bad thing. There are two types of risk taking; positive and negative risk taking. Positive risk taking is all about taking a risk that has a positive consequence, such as trying out for SRC, school captain, or a sporting team. It means that although the action is risky, the outcome is generally a positive result. However, negative risk taking means that the outcome of an action is negative. This can be texting while driving, taking substances like drugs or alcohol, or drink driving.

As I mentioned before, I downloaded snapchat today. It was sort of an impulsive decision, that I can tell that some of my friends aren’t particularly pleased with. I don’t know if downloading snapchat was the best decision. When I weigh the positive consequences – interacting with my friends on another platform, being able to express myself in another way, and being able to use filters, against the possible negative consequences – getting addicted to my phone, losing confidence in myself, and my friends and family not being happy with the decision I made, I feel tied between keeping the app or deleting it.

I don’t know if I’m ready for something like snapchat. With all the things going on in my life right now, should I deliberately add another thing to the pile of things that stress me out? Only I can decide this for myself. However, I can definitely feel the pressure to get social media such as snap chat and instagram, and I guess the only thing I should ask myself, is ‘does this thing make me happy?’ and ‘Will it stray me away from things I see as important in my life?’

My parents already say I’m addicted to my phone, which is sort of true. But I guess it’s because apps such as whatsapp make me slightly more confident as I’m not talking to people face to face. It also helps me communicate with my family and friends outside of school. Even though I’m not the most bravest, confident, or smartest person, I still want to make choices that will positively affect me, and now I’m debating whether or not to keep an app that I know is going to affect me.

Anyway, it’s my decision to either keep it or delete it – and I need to evaluate what’s really important in my life.