Fear is a scary thing that overtakes everyone at some point in life. People can be afraid for many reasons. It can be possible, however, to recognize a fear and take steps to get rid of it.

A couple of weeks ago, I overcame one of my smaller fears – rollercoasters.

Over fall break, I went to Great America with no intention of riding any of the rollercoasters. Up until that day, the only rollercoaster I had gone on at Great America was the Whizzer, known as the easiest rollercoaster at the park. I had been on a couple of rollercoasters before at Indiana Beach, but supposedly they were nothing as well.

Over and over again, I told people I would not go on any rollercoaster beside the Whizzer at Great America. I had no problem waiting in line with my friends, but I didn’t care to actually go on the ride. I said I just didn’t like them.

Once at the park, I considered the possibility of riding the Demon, one I had thought of trying before until I realized it did go upside down, one of my fears. Not wanting to go on rollercoasters was not just because I didn’t like them; I slightly feared going upside down and also getting stuck if the ride were to break down.

In the end, I didn’t wait in any lines to just skip the ride. I rode the Viper, Demon and American Eagle. I felt like I was going to fall out of the chair on Viper, and I did feel it when I was upside down on the Demon, but overall, they weren’t too bad. The American Eagle is another story. I’m not afraid of that ride, but I’d rather be spared the headache.

Rollercoasters are not my favorite, and I still will refuse to go on some rollercoasters. Possibly a little fear might still exist, but it also comes down to the fact I don’t enjoy them that much. The ones I went on were not terrible, but I still don’t think I’d list rollercoasters on a list of the most fun things to do.

Nonetheless, I overcame some fear to go on the ones I rode, and since the Raging Bull has gotten so many raving reviews, it’s on my list as one to try if I ever do end up at the amusement park again.

You don’t have to face a fear to prove anything to anyone, but overcoming fears also can give you a sense of accomplishment.

I felt some sense of accomplishment when I exited the rollercoasters, but I’ve felt that sense even more after overcoming other fears.

I did gymnastics for a little more than a year when I was in high school. Was I scared the first time I tried a round-off flip-flop or the first time I tried a front somersault off the mini-tramp?

Yes, I was, but after I tried the skill, even when I fell, I felt happy and less scared. Plus, the feeling of finally accomplishing a skill for the first time was an indescribable feeling I never would have experienced had I chalked up and given up because I was scared.

You may not be able to overcome all of your fears, but it’s OK to have some fears.

My biggest fear is tornadoes. As I write this in the midst of a tornado watch, I’m not scared, but I’m assuming that’s because it seems the storm has passed and not because my fear of tornadoes has subsided. I’m also still scared of big knives and fire, but maybe those are two fears I should work on overcoming, too.

In any case, some fears may just be a part of you. Other fears are good because they could protect you from harm. However, maybe you recognize some fears as something you can work on overcoming, and realize you were missing out on something good or fun because you were scared.