First, I acknowledge the fact that I am scared of something and that's a big step.

Because when we reject something, we try to come up with excuses.

We're like, it's not the right timing, that's not for me, I'm not good enough.

But maybe it's just fear. Maybe you want it so bad that's why you're pushing it away. Growing up, Michelle

Polar was afraid of everything. Dogs, cats, karaoke. As a grad student, she was still afraid of

everything. But she changed her life after a class assignment inspired her to spend 100 days

facing down her fears and documenting each mortifying

moment. In the process, she inspired many people around the world to do the same. I'm Alicia Menendez,

and this is Latina to Latina.

Hi, Michelle.

Hi.

So after watching your TEDx talk, 100 days without fear, I took inventory of my own fears and phobias.

Those include home invasion, silence and conversations, not good at that at all.

And escalators don't even ask what it is about escalators.

Yes.

I read an R.L. Stein book when I was a child where someone gets tossed from an escalator.

And for the rest of my life, I can't go down an escalator without grabbing the sides.

But anyhow, enough about my fears and phobias.

I thought I grew up with a ton. You've got

me beat. Yeah, I was pretty fearful as a kid. And you know what? I think now looking back and

hearing stories from people around me, I was fearful to my standards and my ambition. For other people, it turns out that I was brave.

Because, for example, I've always been a pretty social person.

...