After all my high school endeavors came to a speedy conclusion, life quickly began to take me to uncharted places. I had all along feared that this would happen, that with the premise of graduation came the premise of change. Change. The single word that ripped my footing out of the grounds I once perceived as stable. Despite my deep-seated hatred of change, I coped as best as I possibly could. I rode the wave of change with hesitance and some resistance through my final weeks at home, as well as my first couple months at school. In my head, leaving my comfort zone had always meant distress, uneasiness and a companion-less battle against the entirely unknown.
What I wish I had known earlier is that the unknown isn’t malevolent, let alone an opponent. The unknown is just a place of virginal waters and unscathed land that many neglects. What didn’t occur to me was that I had so much opportunity in arms reach. With tentative confidence, I only timidly glanced at all that could’ve been—I continued to live my life without allowing the smallest margin of change redirects my perspectives.
College truly does change you and I had to go through a lot to accept that. Accepting the inevitable change that college brought came hand in hand with the realization that maybe all change wasn’t bad. For my whole life previous to college, the change had come with malicious consequences and unwanted outcomes. My hasty correlation was the reason my confidence was shaken whenever encountered with the beastly opponent that of change.
Although somewhat regretful, at the conclusion of my freshman year of college, I finally had this revelation. The year was on the hinges of wrapping up, and sitting in an empty dorm room my thoughts began to echo. I came to the conclusion that my once hatred of the unknown was not out of hate, but fear. My crippling fear of the unknown was the reason I couldn't even get myself to tiptoe into the unknown. However, I am glad I found myself in the mindset I have today.
With clear eyes, I now am ready to brave the adventure into the unknown, and prosper in the future that was once showing the potential to be dull and limited. My horizons are boundless and I am overwhelmed with excitement to expand my own horizons to say I've faced the unknown and conquered it. My once black and white world is now filled with vivid color. My inner circle was rather small in area, but now slowly expands in diameter every day.
As I continue to diverge into my future I move forward with an open mind and heart. I can only hope that people who were once like me are able to go where the wind blows them, but still always themselves to blossom. No matter how far your roots may be uplifted, as long as your meant to be where you're supposed to be you will flourish. Swim through the waters you once were averse to treading in; skydive through all the doubt and land on your feet, ready to conquer. Allow the wanderlust entrenched in your soul to be released, and follow it blindly.
Life is crazy, hectic and tends to never fold out the way it is expected and wanted to. Take the blow and stand up stronger; without ever leaving your comfort zone, you will most certainly miss out on all life has to offer. Grab the bull by the horns and know that in the end, you will come out victorious.
Allow change to shake you, but never break you. Let it take you places you once never thought you would end up-- but don't fight it. Embrace the inescapable change that will convolute the path of your life without putting up a fight. What's life without a little bit of surprise?
