There’s always one piece of advice that precedes the start of a new college semester. Two little words, three little syllables ingrained in my memory as I walk to my classes, walk to my dorm room; walk, and arrive, and leave anywhere at all—be careful.

Paying attention to the time of day and the remainder of light outside is a vehement suggestion. Being aware of how many people are in the area, how many are strangers, and what those strangers are doing (or thinking of doing) are reminders that pervade my thoughts every single day.

I am taught to be careful because, “New Haven is a very dangerous city.” These are my neighbor’s first words as I stop to say hello before returning to the University of New Haven for spring semester. I had not spoken with her since starting college in August 2012, but she does not ask how school is going, how I like the campus, or the people. Instead, I am forebodingly warned about potential dangers.

I am taught to be careful and I am taught to be fearful, because it is always better to be safe than sorry. When mentioning to someone that I’ll be off campus and in the city, there is always a sense of disapproval and a sentence of discouragement.

I take the city bus to work, I’ve walked downtown New Haven at night. I’ve walked down the “bad streets” and through the “bad neighborhoods” with hardly a trace of discomfort. I have never once been intimidated in the city of New Haven because I do take precautions. Yet, other people try to push their fears onto me, as if making them my own would ease their worried minds. If there is a constant avoidance of a situation, distress will only build up, and the problem will never be addressed.

Fear can hold people back from new accomplishments and experiences. It has held me back without a doubt, but I soon realized that there are other ways to address it. Other people’s fears had no reason to become my own. Being wary is certainly important, but letting constant trepidation affect your goals is no solvent.

When you type in just the word “most” into Google, the first search suggestion is “Most dangerous cities in the U.S.” When browsing the 2014 “Ten Most Dangerous cities in the U.S.” listings on Forbes.com, New Haven did not place. On CNN.com’s 2014 listing of “Ten Most Dangerous Cities,” New Haven did not place.

I searched five other websites and New Haven was nowhere near the top most dangerous cities in this country. The Examiner recently posted an article naming the ten most dangerous cities, as listed by the FBI. Yes, for small cities, New Haven does place, but it is not among the most dangerous in the whole U.S., as people like to claim.

About a year ago, as a freshman in college, I heard rumors that New Haven was the fourth most dangerous city in the entire U.S. The student body seemed to be convinced that staying inside the dorm room was the only way that we would graduate college alive. Is it more desirable to believe a fallacy rather than to do research and discover the reality?

The downtown area is not the sole problem. The entire city of New Haven is not the sole problem. Dangerous things can happen anywhere at any time. They can happen in the home, they can happen in broad daylight. They can happen when you are alone or when surrounded by a crowd of people.

The danger I see is letting your own alarming thoughts hold you back. A line exists between being aware and being frightened. Fear should never be an immediate reaction, but a circumstantial one. Until the day New Haven gives me any reason to be afraid, I will continue to enjoy the attractions this city has to offer with precaution; not apprehension.