Change is all around us. Seasons change, semesters end, years come and go. We get older and wiser (hopefully, anyway!). That’s the way the world works. A lot of people love change. Others hate it with the fiery passion of every sun imaginable, plus a few infernos thrown in for good measure. Change, it seems, is sort of a great divider.

Where do I stand, you ask? Well, if I were to be completely honest, I am usually on the fence as far as change is concerned. Sometimes I’m perfectly okay with change. On other days, however, I find myself abhorring the very idea of change. I even try to deny the possibility of upcoming changes in my life. On those days I find myself wanting nothing more than to return to my first year on campus. The days of seemingly endless studio time and chilling out in my room in Dolson Hall seem pretty appealing in the face of today’s more grown-up concerns.

Of course, whenever I start thinking like this I force myself to realize something pretty important. A lot about my life has changed in the past few years.  The change has not been all negative. Sure, bad things have intermixed with good things. I’m still not a fan of repeat moves, near-fatal car crashes, unexpected deaths of loved ones or having my future plans rerouted for unprecedented reasons. As much as these elements have completely sucked for me as well as those around me, life went on. The world did not come to an end even when tragedy seemed to reign supreme.  Things took a break, a brief pause, and then gradually returned to some semblance of normal.

Change, be it good or bad, is a catalyst. It alters our lives. It can also be an important learning experience. Above all else, though, change allows us to grow and become better in the long run. Do not fight change. Embrace it. You might not like it, but whatever the change is, it may turn out to be good for you in the long run. Don’t let fear of change stand in your way.

Change doesn’t always have to be huge or completely life-altering. Sometimes you may feel the urge to do something differently. Make a wardrobe change. Try something new with your hair. This year started off feeling pretty substandard for me. It’s been cold, slow, and more than a little dull. I wanted to do something different, something fun. So I colored my hair. It wasn’t much of a change, just a shade lighter than my usual color. That doesn’t matter. What matters is this one simple little change gave me a boost in confidence. It also made the world seem a little bit brighter despite it being the middle of a particularly frigid winter.

I’m not demanding that everyone reading this automatically go out and dye their hair. I am simply suggesting that we all learn to become a little bit more accepting of change. Learn to be more fluid with the idea of change, and I guarantee you will be well on your way to discovering your inner awesomesauce.

Until next time, study hard, stay warm, and remember that you are awesomesauce.