Risk Worth Taking

  “Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing.” - Denis Waitley

  Hello NCD, I am Lane Nichols, and over the past year, I have been blessed with the opportunity of being the North Central District Sentinel. I would like to begin by telling you all a little about myself. Many of you know me for FFA. Besides being a district officer, I have been highly involved in Career Development Events at both the district and state levels, but outside of FFA, I have also tried to stay

active. I am a three sport athlete with cross country, basketball, and golf, and a member of National Honor Society, 4-H, band, and drama club.

Showing a steer in our county fairs round robin show.

Throughout high school, I have always felt constantly overwhelmed with homework and extracurricular activities, but now that I’m a senior, I look back on my first three years of high school as being a piece of cake. Between all the homework, sports, and scholarships, I think it’s safe to say that “senioritis” is beginning to set in. Even though I look forward to May 17 when I get to walk the stage to receive my high school diploma, I also realize that with being a senior, many of the things I have loved doing for much of my life are coming to an end.

Our district officer team prepping for our district dodge ball tournament

As I reflect on the last several years, the thing that bugs me the most is that I haven’t always seized the moment and taken advantage of the opportunities put before me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a blast with high school, but I want to challenge you to go out and try something new. When I made the decision to run for a district office, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and I saw that as a risk! But I’m not just talking about FFA. I mean risk trying a new activity. Or risk talking to that group of people that you always avoid. Do something that challenges you and gets you out of your comfort zone. Edward Whitacre Jr., the founder of General Motors, gets my point across perfectly in his words, “Be willing to step outside your comfort zone once in a while; take the risks in life that seem worth taking. The ride might not be as predictable as if you’d just planted your feet and stayed put, but it will be a heck of a lot more interesting.” Now, North Central Kansas FFA, don’t sit back and let life pass you by, go out and take advantage of your opportunities!

Your North Central District Sentinel,

Lane Nichols