Last year I decided to restart my Spanish lessons. I enrolled in an intermediate level class. At first I was intimidated because the class description indicated that our grades would be based ont our ability to speak and understand Spanish. My first reaction was to abandon the class. I know I wanted to learn to speak Spanish, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready for full immersion. I had completed the two required Spanish prerequisites more than four years prior.

On the first day of class, I watched nervously as more and more students filed in to the classroom. Some knew each other from their previous Spanish classes. This made me feel even more out of place. A little later, the professor arrived, and began to address the class in Spanish. Although I understood him perfectly, my jitters did not end. While the professor was speaking, one student stood up and exited the classroom—without a word. I was thinking, “This is your chance, go!” I decided to stay.

The conversational Spanish class turned out to be great. The professor did an excellent job of creating a learning environment that helped his students gain confidence while practicing their Spanish skills. I am so glad I stayed, and took the challenge.

I took back-to-back conversational Spanish classes that year. I had the same professor for both. My final grade in each class was an “A”. I now speak Spanish confidently, and I understand it well.

I am especially glad that I did not block my own progress by running away from something that I really wanted.

Sometimes it is easy to recognize what, or who is holding you back—just flip the camera on your smartphone. Oh wow.

When taking on challenges, set your navigational sights to “success”—that way it will be much easier to overcome any blocks that you may encounter.

GDR