When I was 5 I had to take a bus to another school from the school I lived near. The school I lived near had too many kindergarten children. One day when they brought me home they brought me home to the wrong stop. I was 5 years old and had no flipping clue where I was. I asked some people how do I get to my street and they told me a direction. I was scared but I started walking. A strange car was following me which made me more nervous but I ignored them and kept walking. I got to a gas station and a van with two strangers in it stopped and told me that they were friends of my parents and wanted to bring me to them. I told them NO Thank you I dont know you. They argued with me and kept insisting but I refused to get close enough to them. No way in hell was I getting in the van of strangers thanks. I figured out that I needed to get across a very busy and scary street. I was taught that I could not go across the street without an adult holding my hand. I did not know what to do because I also knew that I was not supposed to talk to strangers. I paced there completely unsure what to do. And a small miracle happened. A little old lady came up to the corner. I knew I could trust her so I asked if she would walk me across the street. She did. I was then in very familiar territory and walked home. No one was there. So I sat on the steps and a little while later my parents came they were so glad I was safe.
I have often wondered why I am able to be so calm in crisis I think its because I learned it early. I can be scared out of my mind but I am able to work through it.
