Winter break has seemingly brought with it a myriad of personal changes for many. Wherever I turn it seems someone is altering some part of their life, whether it's a change in job or just a change in scenery. All of this change has got me thinking, maybe "new year, new me" really is the motto for 2017.

I'm one of those people who doesn't usually do well with change. I prefer to have things stay the same, and when change inevitably happens I get really nervous/shaken up/etc. I'm not sure if it's the hope of a new, exciting year or 2017 is already changing me, but I've come to realize that change doesn't have to be as scary as it seems.

No matter how we try to prevent it, change will always occur. It's okay to feel nervous or worried, but trying to run from it will only make it worse. Yes, change can lead you to new and daunting situations, but it can also open the door to many exciting opportunities as well. It's easy for people to feel stressed about a new roommate or having to apply for a new job, but you can and will get through it, trust me. It's like having a presentation for a class: you're really nervous about it in the beginning, but once it happens, you'll become more comfortable with it and whether it's one day or ten years later, you'll grow to accept it.

Without change, none of us would have the same lives or experiences that we have now. It's easy to stay in the same spot and go through the same motions, but stepping out of your comfort zone and dealing with change as it comes can expose you to a world of opportunity that you didn't even know existed.

Not all change is as life altering as I'm making it seem, but even if you're starting small, it's all going to be okay, because change may not be so bad after all.