This is part one of a two-part series.

The Greek poet Virgil said, "Fortune favors the bold." I first discovered this truism as an older teenager, and it has served me well through the years.

As a high school student, I wanted to be involved in student government. Each year I ran for class office, but each time I took the more timid route and ran for one of the lesser offices, never class president. I ran for VP, or treasurer, or secretary, and I was never elected. My last chance came at the end of eleventh grade as a rising senior. This time I threw caution to the wind and ran for the biggest prize: Student Council President. And I won. It was a game changer for me.

Overnight, I became one of the most popular kids in school. The office came with tons of responsibilities, all of which served to build my confidence. I started asking some of the prettiest girls on dates. Many of them said, “No,” but I was proud of myself for even asking — something I would’ve never done just a year earlier. The important factor was recognizing that being bold was what opened the doors of........

© Psychology Today