The idea of bravery: you might think of courage, selflessness, or just not being afraid. We know bravery is not necessarily equal to not being afraid, but it can seem that way. Bravery can be navigating your own anxiety and insecurity, or fears of judgment and criticism, and putting yourself out there to try something new or stand up for yourself.

Feeling scared or intimidated can keep us from trying new things. Don't beat yourself up, we've all been there. It's hard not to have expectations for ourselves that are too high and that keep us from taking risks or trusting that we'll figure things out along the way, especially when it comes to big things like applying for colleges, internships, and jobs, or joining student government and taking AP courses.

In this episode we'll talk about times we felt like we were brave, when we weren't, and when we maybe wish we had been but let fear or misconceptions get the best of us. You’ll also find out how much Shanna loves baseball and why she really wishes she had joined softball, and which sports make Hannah faint…

We'll recount our high school prom experiences and how we were influenced by other kids and social expectations— How do you figure out how to make experiences like prom your own and feel comfortable? We're still not sure, but we have some ideas.

Experiences that don't turn out great can end up being positive— they teach us what we do and don't like! We also recognize that being able to say "no" can be powerful and brave, especially if you feel overwhelmed or like you're too easily pulled into things you might not want to do. Shanna uses daily reflections and affirmations to keep herself grounded and find energy to be brave and make choices that are good for her. We'll be trying it out, and maybe you'd like to try it too.

Go forth and be brave :-)

Stay tuned at the end for our segments Would You Rather and Girls Pick!