Variety Staffer Sylvia Robinson’s “This I Believe” graphic is shown. Robinson spoke of the various ways she has experienced emotions throughout her life. “My sensitivity is something (that) I’ve had forever, and as much as I think about it negatively, with my feelings taking over like a storm and feeling like they’re uncontrollable, I think it’s a character trait that helps me live in the moment,” Robinson said. Graphic by Sylvia Robinson
Variety Staffer Sylvia Robinson shares her belief about being sensitive and how that has shaped her personality.
Hi, I’m Sylvia Robinson, a sophomore and a Variety Staffer for the ODYSSEY Media Group at Clarke Central High School. This is “This I Believe.” These are essays that discuss the origin, importance, and rationale behind people’s personal belief systems. Students will share their personal essays discussing how these beliefs affect their everyday lives, times they may have been challenged, and how they may impact the lives of those around them. This is “This I Believe.”
I’ve always been a sensitive person. As much as I think about that negatively, I think it’s a character trait that helps me live in the moment.
From a young age, I’ve always been someone who tends to get emotional over various things, whether big or small.
Whenever someone asks me about my favorite activities that I did as a kid, the hobbies I used to do and why I grew out of them, it brings certain emotions to the surface: a flood of memories rushing to my mind that have been locked away until the moment they’re released.
People might think of my sensitivity as something that isn’t a big deal, or that I take everything too seriously. But overthinking like this is relieving in a way. Knowing I’m able to indulge in the past with interests I used to absorb so visually and emotionally can open a door for various opportunities to grow my mindset.
With all of the negative experiences that have happened in my life, I look back on them and realize that I’m glad they happened. My sensitivity has made me grow and understand mistakes that I have made that I otherwise would have been oblivious to.
I’ve learned to respond to these mistakes in a way where they sway me to give my full attention to the issue and provide information that was persisting through my mind, in return to truly understand the situation I’m in without hurting people that I love.
I used to think of sensitivity as a feeling that would linger around me and wouldn’t leave me alone, but now I think of it as a lesson, something that helps me grow in a way where I can look back and smile, rather than frown and turn away.
As much as it’s something I think is more beneficial than harmful, there are times when it’s better to not be swayed by my emotions so much, especially in moments where I feel stuck in certain situations.
Feeling so passionately can be difficult when I shouldn’t be behaving in a specific way. There have been times where I took something in so strongly and reacted in a way that wasn’t necessary, and as much as I process these emotions in the moment, it’s still a downside to what I go through in having this kind of vulnerability.
Eventually, I get through the rough stage and look back on how there are moments when it’s mandatory to respond in that way, and when it’s not, it’s something I work on improving.
When there are times when I recollect moments, if it involves laughter, grieving or being ashamed, I find it oddly comforting. Knowing these moments that I had and the feelings that I felt was something prepossessing. Knowing I had people surrounding me in these times of emotions – even just having myself, was someone who was with me and helped me grow through support and the actions I took in these situations.
It made me realize that these memories were not only a symbol of emotions or ‘life’, but also a symbol of connection and the presence of others defying me and myself as someone who is trying to flourish as I get older.
This I believe.
