Growth feels awkward at first. Do it anyway.

On July 9, 2024, during my final exams, I gave myself a challenge.

A 30-day journey with AI as my partner. No one around me was doing the same thing, so I had to be my own push. Day 2 asked me to do something I had never done.

Record a 2-minute video about a topic I cared about.

I’m introverted and camera-shy. So it felt like jumping into an ice bath. But I did it anyway. I didn’t die. ​

What happened next, I panicked, I stuttered, I deleted at least five takes. One video lasted 9 minutes. Another 5. Then 3. Finally, I got it to 2 minutes.

Since I had promised to share my journey publicly on X, I had no option but to post one of the videos. It felt like launching a nuclear bomb.

Then perfectionism showed up, I opened CapCut, added captions. Tried to clean up my mistakes. But now, looking back, that rough, shaky version was more honest than the clean one.

The next time I picked up the camera, something had shifted, It didn’t feel as terrifying. That’s when I realized the way through is to just start.

Maybe one day I’ll get better at showing up on camera, Maybe I won’t. But however it turns out, I’ll keep showing up.

You grow when you step into discomfort, and you build confidence when you stop waiting to feel ready and just go.

From someone who’s been there: You are not alone, and every step you take counts ♥️.