This I Believe Essay

          I believe that everyone makes mistakes, but you have to be optimistic. When you get to the point where you're sitting in your room, not wanting to think about your insane family, your friends who you think hate you, or how how you never seem to get a good grade even though you try so hard, you only have one option; knowing things will get better.

          A few weeks ago, I decided to take the subway to school without my sister's help for the first time. Yes. This legitimately was a big deal for me. Mostly because I've lived in the same neighborhood all my life and barely know what street I live on, much less how to get to school. It's a problem. Anyway, I walked to the subway (ran, actually- I had to see Mr. Goldstein and was terrified that I'd be late) and ran down the steps. I knew exactly what to do- get the F or the G until you reach 4th Avenue 9th Street. But after I got on, something was wrong. It had been like five stops already! I stood there in anxious anticipation for about five minutes until I finally tapped a woman on the shoulder and asked if this train went to where I was going. "4th Avenue… 9th Street?" she said. I nodded. "That's in Brooklyn, honey. We're in Manhattan." I looked at her. "Oh." And bounded out of the train, sobbing. 

          After getting out, crying hysterically, watching hundreds of New Yorkers pass me by with strange looks of pity, I called everyone I knew until finally my friend picked up and I was directed back to Brooklyn. My point is, I didn't stop there. I asked the tired lady at the information desk how to get back and (after receiving an appalled glance) got on the train headed to M.S. 51. I was tear streaked and feeling not only tired but stupid. How did I make such a dumb mistake? But I realized. Everyone had stories like this. Some were much worse! This was what made me unique. Maybe a little absent minded, too, but my mistake showed me that I was really a New York City girl now. I could ride around on trains anywhere I wanted (even if it was by mistake). But it wasn't a mistake really, it showed me there was a world outside of what I knew. This kind of thing didn't just happen in books. There was a lot more for me to experience, and I wanted to. After my dramatic revelation, my friends were all excited to see me. They seemed to think I had died or something. But it made me feel better, and I eventually did get to see Mr. Goldstein (who told me I was really dumb) and finish all my homework on time.

          In conclusion, everybody makes mistakes. Not everyone is who you think they are. Accidents are adventures. Mishaps become stories. To live is not to dwell over past errors, but to think about how they serve you in the future.