Out of the Comfort Zone.....

“Go to the edge” the voice said

Every day at the school I work at, we are asking the students to go outside their comfort zone. In fact, we pride ourselves on making them just a little bit uncomfortable. For some, it could just be as simple as asking them to speak up in class, or knowing where to start writing on a page. We are asking them to take risks. From where we stand, they are not big risks, they are things we do without even thinking about it, however for some of the students, they are as insurmountable as climbing Mt Everest is for us.

“But I’ll fall”

Camp is a huge “risk” for some of the students. Leaving the comfort, security and familiarity of home and family is almost too much for some to cope with. Once at Camp, some need help with the basics we all take for granted – when and how to shower, when and how to get up and dressed in the morning. Sharing a meal with a large group of people, even sitting down to eat for more than five minutes is a huge leap outside of their comfort zone.

“Go to the edge” the voice said

The students all meet these challenges and largely rise to the occasion, without too many tears (from staff and students alike). The happy, smiling faces and constant laughter is testimony to that.

“But you’ll push me”

When was the last time YOU were truly challenged? When was the last time YOU stepped out of your comfort zone? As adults, we have worked out ways to avoid situations that make us uncomfortable. I know myself, when confronted with the Taipan at Jambaroo, I simply told the students “no, I’m not doing that, I don’t like enclosed spaces”. I can endure their laughter, I can endure their name calling – I can live with that. 

“Go to the edge” the voice said

I like to think I have empathy with those students, that I can remember what it is like to be scared to do something. Often when the students become anxious about stepping outside their comfort zone, we tell them “it’s okay”, “you can do it”, “it’s not a problem”, when inside we are probably thinking “why are they worried about that?” However I think time and logical thinking dulls that fear in most of us. We learn to deal with that fear, we learn to cope or overcome it – or we simply avoid the cause. I decided whilst watching the students on one of the Jambaroo attractions that I needed to “put up or shut up”. I was watching them jump off “The Rock”, a five metre high jump into an equally deep pool. Certainly not for the faint hearted! One student, who had been wanting to do it all day, had jumped once and was hesitating on his second jump. As I watched and sensed his hesitation, I resolved to do it myself. “Okay”, I called, “I’ll do it too!”

So I went

As I ran to the top and saw their looks of disbelief, I tried not to think too much about what I was doing. I went to the edge and looked down (first mistake – long way down!) I endured the giggling behind me, and looked down at the expectant faces below me. I called (begged, pleaded) for silence, stretched my arms out to the side and took a few deep, calming (last?) breaths. With the encouraging words of the lifeguard ringing in my ears (“I’m here to rescue you if anything goes wrong” – thanks for that) I finally took that step off the edge.

I was pushed

Five metres down to the water, with your eyes shut, seems to take an awfully long time – and there is no going back! Silence seemed to descend on the park as I waited to hit the water. The journey up to the top of the water takes a while too! Once I realised I was still in one piece, I began the swim back to the edge – “how was it?” (cold), “was it good?” (I’ll get back to you on that one). I climbed out and put on my brave face. “Do it again – the more you do it the easier it gets” I was advised. No, I think once was enough! I was absolutely terrified – at least I could blame the cold water for the shaking.

And I flew.

I think it is a good thing to challenge yourself like this every once in a while. It has put me back in touch with how it feels to be really scared – to be really uncomfortable. Hopefully it will give me a greater appreciation, understanding and acceptance of the daily struggles of what the students go through.  Whilst I may not jump off any more “mountains”, hopefully it will also allow me to also push myself out of my comfort zone more often.