I used to be a very passionate person. I loved trying new things, and I was always eager to take on new challenges. But, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become much more cautious. I tend to stick to what I know, and I avoid taking risks. I’m not sure when this change happened, but I feel like it’s been a gradual process. Now, when faced with a new opportunity, I’m more likely to think of all the reasons why I shouldn’t do it, rather than all the reasons why I should. Sometimes, I wish I could go back to that younger, more adventurous version of myself. But then I think about all the things I’ve learned from taking risks and about how much I’ve grown as a person because of those experiences. Maybe being cautious isn’t so bad after all.

SAT · English · previous-year question