The choice between continuing to do only those things in which one is proficient and striking out into new, unfamiliar territory is difficult. There is comfort in remaining within familiar parameters, but growth happens only when we exceed those boundaries. Faced with the choice between only doing things that I know I do well and taking risks, I prefer taking risks for several reasons. First, taking risks expands my range of knowledge and affords me the wisdom that comes through comparison. For instance, although I was born and raised in the United States until I was twenty years old, I have had the opportunity to live in three different countries since that time: Germany, China, and Great Britain. Had I decided to remain in the United States without taking the risk and challenge of adapting to different cultures and languages, my life would have been easier. However, the experience of living in varied countries with differing social morals and worldviews has enhanced my knowledge through comparison. Without living in other countries, I would not have the knowledge to critically examine my American upbringing, holding onto some values while discarding others. Furthermore, taking the risk of living in other countries has allowed me to gain a sense of empathy and understanding for cultures vastly different than my own. Another reason that I prefer taking risks is that risks force me to grow. It is true that simply doing tasks that I do well would be a safe, prudent way to live life. However, taking risks compels me to expand my abilities. For example, although I was not a vocal player, my basketball coach asked me to be team captain for my final season in high school. I could have declined the offer, and remained in the background, but I chose to take the risk to lead the team. Through this experience, I learned valuable lessons in leadership; motivation, and discipline. More importantly, leading the team brought me closer to each individual player, many of whom I still count as my friends. Had I not accepted my coachs call to captain the basketball team that season, I would have never learned these valuable lessons and developed these deeper friendships. Taking risks has also taught me resilience in the face of failure. When I was entering graduate school, I needed money to finance my education. Consequently, I applied for several scholarships. Unfortunately, I was denied for almost all of them. However, by sticking my neck out, and applying for scholarships even when I was a long-shot candidate, I learned that scholarship committees were not rejecting me, but my application. This understanding that rejection of my scholarship applications was not a personal event enabled me to continue to apply to other scholarships without losing faith that eventually I would be successful. And, eventually, I was. In conclusion, I prefer taking risks because doing so allows me to gain knowledge through comparison, forces me to grow, and has taught me to be diligent even if I fail at first. Taking risks is part of living. Without risks we would not be living.
在继续做这些事情的选择之间，只有一个是熟练的，并进入新的，陌生的领域是困难的。在熟悉的参数中，有舒适感，但当我们超越了这些界限时，增长只会发生。面对我知道我做得好，冒风险的事情，我宁愿冒险，也有几个原因。首先，冒风险扩大我的知识范围，让我通过比较的智慧。例如，虽然我在美国出生和长大，直到我二十岁，我有机会生活在三个不同的国家，因为那个时候：德国，中国和英国。如果我决定留在美国，而不冒风险和挑战，适应不同的文化和语言，我的生活会更容易。然而，生活在不同的国家有不同的社会道德和世界观的经验通过比较增强我的知识。如果不生活在其他国家，我就不必对我的美国教育进行批判性的审视，同时也要坚持一些价值观，同时抛弃别人。此外，冒着生活在其他国家的风险，让我获得了一种比我自己更不同的理解和同情的感觉。我更喜欢冒险的另一个原因是风险迫使我成长。这是真实的，只要做我做的任务，将是一个安全的，谨慎的方式来生活。然而，冒险让我扩大我的能力。举例来说，虽然我不是一个声乐选手，我的篮球教练让我在高中的最后一个赛季中成为队长。我本可以拒绝这一提议，并留在后台，但我选择冒风险去领导这个团队。通过这次经历，我学到了有价值的课程，在领导、动力和纪律方面。更重要的是，带领球队把我拉近了每个球员，其中很多人我仍然算是我的朋友。如果我没有接受我的教练的电话，队长的篮球队，赛季，我将从来没有学到这些宝贵的经验，并开发了这些更深的友谊。冒风险也教我面对失败的韧性。当我进入研究生院，我需要钱资助我的教育。因此，我申请了几个奖学金。不幸的是，几乎所有的人都被拒绝了。然而，我的脖子上，并申请奖学金，即使我是一个长镜头的候选人，我知道，奖学金委员会并没有拒绝我，但我的申请。这种理解，我的奖学金申请的拒绝是不是个人的事件使我能够继续申请其他奖学金，而不失去信念，最终我会成功。最后，我是。总之，我更喜欢冒险，因为这样做可以让我通过比较来获得知识，迫使我成长，并教我勤奋，即使我失败了。冒险是生活的一部分。没有风险，我们就不会活。