Write about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently?
One situation may be when I was in high school and saw a classmate being bullied in the hallway. I froze and didn’t intervene, feeling too scared to speak up. Later, I heard that the same student had been bullied relentlessly and had even dropped out of school. I wished I had taken action to help, to speak up to the bullies or tell a trusted adult.
If I could have a do-over, I would have mustered up the courage to speak out, knowing that standing up for someone who is being bullied is always the right thing to do, even if it feels scary. I would have also made sure to report the bullying to a teacher or counselor to ensure that the victim received the support they needed to cope with the experience. By not taking action, I missed an opportunity to make a difference, and I would do everything differently if that situation ever presents itself in the future.