My first grade year, my parents introduced the idea that we'd be "moving somewhere warmer." I was so upset that there's a good chance I literally worried myself sick thinking about starting at a new school (consequently, I ended up with pneumonia, but that's another story). Then I got there. I loved my new school, and I made so many new friends. I remember going home at the end of the year and telling my mom I was glad we had moved. Funny how that works, isn't it?

Now, obviously change isn't too hard for a first grader. First graders tend to bond over things like both enjoying chocolate chip cookies. But nevertheless, it wasn't so bad.

My fifth grade year, once again there were some big changes on the horizon. In typical fifth grade fashion, I was overly dramatic and convinced that starting middle school at a new school would be impossible. And yes, the kids at my new school thought I was pretty weird at first, but, in their defense, I was pretty googly-eyed over the same mountains they had been seeing their whole lives. Within a few weeks, I felt acclimated. I had friends and I loved my new school. I was learning a new language, riding the tram and just enjoying my new home.

Again, it doesn't seem like change should be all that hard for a fifth grader. But it was. And then it wasn't. I met incredible people and had experiences I never could've dreamed of otherwise.

My sophomore year of high school, my parents presented another big change. This time, I knew it was coming, but believe it or not, it's a lot harder to move as a junior in high school than it is as a first grader. I was terrified. I was leaving my support system and going somewhere where I didn't really know anyone except my family (and they couldn't come to school with me).

And it was okay. I made some of my best friends as a result of that scary instant. Not right away, but it happened.

The biggest change of all, of course (which seems silly because we've got an international move in here, but it's true), was starting college. Not having that support system of family and friends, and not feeling known, was really hard at first. But then, it got easier. And all of a sudden, it got to a point where I feel a little "homesick" for my college family (constructed of a strange mishmash of friends) any time I'm at home with my family. Funny how that works.

My point is, change is really a good thing. Imagine if we hadn't hit puberty! That was a pretty big change, but thank goodness for it, because otherwise my cheeks would probably still resemble those of a chipmunk.

Obviously that's kind of an exaggerated example, but every change brings people into our lives that we really couldn't imagine our lives without. For instance, the first grade move brought me the people I competed to read Harry Potter with and the friendship bracelet years. That fifth grade move brought me the people who would welcome me into their home at the drop of a hat, the people who make distance seem a little bit shorter, and the people who have always forced me to go outside of my comfort zone in the best possible ways. The junior year move brought me the people who make Greensboro home. UNC has brought me the people I call at two in the morning because I know we're both still up, the people I eat many (many!) bagels with, the people who go on cook out runs, and the people who cheer me on and hug me when the cheers didn't quite work out.

Every change brings something or someone into our lives. So even if it's scary, and even if it's big, it's almost definitely going to be one of the most important, most exciting things you'll ever experience. And that's something to love about change.