Fish Quote by Melissa Jensen
““How recently have the sharks been fed?" the guy next to me asked. Alex and I were in a small room with a dry-erase board, a perky blonde aquarium emplyee, and three guys from Rutgers who'd won their fraternity Christmas prize. True to Alex's promise, no one had seen me in my miniscule jungle print. Another perky girl had handed me a wet suit and pointed me into a changing room. So as I listened to the basics of shark tank etiquette, I was fully encased in blue neoprene from ankle to jaw. The frat boys kept sneaking looks at me when they thought I-and Alex-wasn't looking. It made me feel just a little bit better. Alex's promise that I didn't have to get into the water if I really didn't want to helped, too. It had gotten me out of the car and into the aquarium. "You can do it," he'd coaxed. "Yes," I'd answered, thinking of the skateboarder a little and "fake it til you make it" more. "I can do it." "Yesterday." Perky Girl answered the feeding question. "Believe me. They're not hungry." I wanted to know exactly how she knew that.Did she ask the sharks? "Okay," she chirped. "Let's get snorkeling.””
About This Quote
The narrator confronts fear of sharks, using encouragement and a "fake it till you make it" mindset to overcome anxiety and engage in an unfamiliar experience.
In simple terms: Overcoming fear by acting confident despite uncertainty.
Act confidently, even if nervous.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- aquarium visit
- public speaking
- team activities
- first-time challenges
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance confidence with authentic feeling?
- When does “fake it” become harmful?
Confidence may mask underlying anxiety, requiring genuine coping strategies.