Have you ever choked under pressure? Or did you overcome the stress?

Answer 1

My worst was my freshman year in college. In high school I had been a terrible procrastinator, but got away with it. In college I dug myself into a hole I couldn't get out of. One day, a week from the end of the semester, I realized I was so behind I could never catch up. I was going to flunk half my classes. Lose my scholarship. Embarass myself forevery.

The pressure was unbearable. I kinda froze and couldn't do anything but sit in my room for a couple hours. My thoughts went round and round in my head - how could I be so stupid? If only I hadn't put it all off to the end.

After a few hours, I snapped out of it and said to myself: Sitting here is doing me no good. I decided to focus all my effort on one class - the one with the least late work. In just a day I had that class caught up! I worked my way through the other classes. In the end, I just took incompletes in two classes, and I finished making those up about 3 weeks later (I was really behind).

Also I learned an important lesson - I still struggle with procrastination sometimes, but I've never let it get that bad, and I'm good at digging in and catching up before I get into serious trouble.

Answer 2

I've choked under pressure, on stage and in the middle of live broadcasts. You can be going along just fine and then realise you have no idea what you're goint to say next, or who you are and what you're doing. Nightmare. Literally for some people, a nightmare scenario. Gotta learn to not take it too seriously, but I'm glad to say it gets easier - the more often you do the scary thing, the easier it becomes - like jumping from a top diving board, or striding onto the stage - the moment won't wait, you have to go meet it. Choking, ultimately, means you just miss your moment.

Answer 3

Pressure is my ally for success. I tend to come out with my best work when i'm facing some type of deadline. I don't really know why. I just can't focus if something isn't due right away. It's odd. All i know is that i feel more comfortable under pressure because i inherently know that i will do what needs to be.

Answer 4

I work better under pressure and I was able to over the stress by just getting the job done or whatever the situation was, think fast.

Answer 5

Yes of course I've choked under pressure. That's how I learned to deal with it.

Answer 6

Once in grade school a friend introduced me to someone and said that I was really funny and to prove it by being funny. I froze. My first big chance as a primary school stand-up comedian and I choked. It is hard to be funny on command. I had yet to suscribe to the Henny Youngman Newsletter. My life quickly spiraled downward after that to a string of meaningless and tawdry first grade romances on the monkey bars and a heavy dependence on Ovaltine. Only with the help of the Howdy Doody Sugary Drink Clinic was I able to shake my addiction.

Answer 7

I've choked under pressure. Does the playing of sports count? Okay, life too...

Answer 8

I tend to choke more when there isn't any pressure. Without pressure, I'm soooooooooooo lazy, and tend to just be lackadaisical about things. If there is pressure, even a moderate amount, I thrive and come alive, my mind moves quickly, and it's fun for me. Funny how that works.

Answer 9

I used too. But then I realized that pressure is the greatest motivator there is. As is stress. Both can be taken as a negative or a positive. Both make you react in a way that can either advance you or destroy you.

I relish pressure from without. It makes me think, reflect, act, and decide. Mainly think.

Stress is internal. That is something we bring upon ourselves. As such, it easily dispelled.

Answer 10

I seem to thrive under pressure. In college, when I'd have a huge paper and 2 months to do it, I'd always start three days before. Well, more accurately, I'd try to start it well before that but the fountain of inspiration liked to remain dry until it was crunch time. It's pretty annoying.