"We are moving."

My life was over. At 8 years old, my house was where my life began, and where I imagined it would end. The small town of Mineral Point, Wisconsin was my world. The neighbor kids were like cousins to me. I knew every nook and cranny in that town, and I couldn't imagine moving away from it all.

We were moving four hours away so my dad could have a better job. My sister and I would be attending public school instead of being homeschooled by my mom. I was going to be the new kid on the block.

It's safe to say I bawled my eyes out.

I wasn't just upset that I had to attend public school or meet new people. I was upset that my life was changing and I couldn't stop it.

But I survived public school just fine. I actually cherish that first year in public school more than the remaining eight years of my schooling.

What's even funnier is I also survived moving three more times before I was even in the eighth grade.

I recently had a conversation with a friend who was feeling really anxious and emotional about moving back home after this semester at college ends. She doesn't like change and was having a hard time grasping the fact that life was changing yet again. I felt the complete opposite. Change has never seemed that scary to me. And as I told her this, I realized that a major reason I don't feel anxious about change is because I'm so used to it. I've moved from so many houses and experienced life-altering events growing up that change is almost normal to me. Often, I expect it.

As a teenager, my acceptance of change has allowed me to cherish where I am right now, but also cherish the transition between right now and the future. The future is bound to happen, and it's impossible to dodge change. I've learned to not duck and cover when change comes my way, but to have my glove ready to catch whatever that change may throw at me.