I like to stick to my comfort zone.

I don't like meeting new people, and I don't like trying new things. I can't get my mind around how people my age travel by themselves. I'm going to college twenty minutes from where I grew up. I still revert to chicken tenders when I'm not sure what to order at a restaurant. It's a bit pathetic in my eyes, but it's who I am.

If it were up to me, I wouldn't be this way. I would naturally be confident and open to new experiences. For a long time, I've felt like I can't change that part of me and that I'm just not the kind of person that I am. But recently, it dawned on me: I can change that part of myself. I just have to do the scary thing and make the decision to do so.

I know I can handle anything life throws my way — the last year of my life has been filled with ups and downs that have transformed me and the way I see the world. I know, deep down, I am capable of making changes, but that doesn't change that I like my comfort zone. It's safe here — I won't get hurt, I won't embarrass myself, I know exactly what I'm going to get out of life. However, I know that staying here means I'm missing out on so much that the world has to offer.

As I enter the last summer before I have to start adulting for real, I've decided I'm going to start taking these chances to make changes. For example, I have decided that I'm going to write a senior thesis. This is terrifying for me — I'm terrible at managing my time and I don't know if I have the specific skills to pull off this sort of research.

I do know though that if I don't take this chance, I will regret it because the opportunity to write about something I've become fascinated with and may never get to work with again is too great to pass up. So I'm taking the chance, and ever since I made the decision to take on this project, I have been so excited I can't stop thinking about it.

Deciding to write this thesis is what got me thinking: if taking this chance brings me this much joy, why not go all-in on this "making changes and taking chances" thing? Which is why now, that's exactly what I'm going to do. As soon as I have the opportunity, I'll be meeting new people, trying new things, buying that plane ticket, ordering a new meal, and taking every other chance I could possibly take.

Am I terrified? Yes. Do I KNOW deep down that all of this fear will be worth the end result? Absolutely. It's been time to make changes, and I think I'm finally ready.