Within the last couple of weeks, I have felt a huge shift in the energy around me. The weather is changing, the school year is ending and summer is on the horizon. I’ve seen unexpected people, felt unexpected things and come to unexpected revelations. Maybe it’s something in the air, or maybe it’s the fact that I’ve been focusing my energy on new things; regardless of the reason, things have changed.

I suppose one can say things are always changing, yet at times life can feel utterly static. We fall into routines and patterns that organize our lives, causing time to pass more efficiently and quickly. Therefore when unexpected change occurs, it can be slightly jarring. In light of the ending year and approaching graduation, it’s important to realize that facing change is inevitable yet necessary for our personal growth.

In order to better deal with change, one must learn to be open. When we open ourselves up to the endless possibilities that life has to offer, we release the fear that we associate with change. Resisting change only makes the transition more draining and tasking. If we can learn to trust the journey as well as ourselves, the negative associations that we hold with change will morph into positive ones. Rather than viewing change as loss, view it as a gain. Instead of feeling scared of what a change may bring, feel excited. Changing your mindset is the only way to change the outcome.

Lorenzo Basilio / Daily Nexus

Lorenzo Basilio / Daily Nexus

Though people often say that having expectations only leads to disappointment, expectations can actually assist us when dealing with change. Expectations are imperative when trying to maintain a positive outlook. They give us hope to look forward to and provide us with standards for how we want to live our lives. However, it is important to keep our expectations broad and to stray away from specifics. Limiting our expectations to a small spectrum limits our preference to a particular scenario, causing us to ultimately feel disappointment when things do not go exactly as we had hoped. Rather, keeping an open mind and heart can prevent you from becoming let down yet still allow you to hold hope for positivity.

If we can learn to trust the journey as well as ourselves, the negative associations that we hold with change will morph into positive ones.

Disappointment can also stem from feeling a lack of control. It’s extremely natural for us to want to control every aspect of our lives. Having control gives us a sense of reassurance, security and power. However, it’s simply not realistic. Unexpected events will always occur, whether they’re tragedies or victories. These events that bring on newness and anxiety can be viewed as stepping stones to the next phases of our lives.

Without the initial shock of a big change, we would never be able to prepare ourselves for what lies ahead. Therefore rather than feeling fear when these events occur, try to feel excitement because you know you are being readied for growth and evolution.

This fast paced, go-go-go lifestyle modern college students live can sweep us up in a swirling vortex of stress. Especially when on the quarter system, time seems to slip by within the blink of an eye, leaving us exasperated when things do not go as planned. Even though I still have one year of left of my undergrad, seeing all these students prepare for graduation makes me realize how soon that will be me. My life will completely change. For the first time in 21 years, I will no longer be in school. On top of that, I have absolutely no idea where I’ll be living or what I’ll be doing. These thoughts are terrifying yet exhilarating.

As we grow, it is important to keep our minds and hearts open as new experiences and revelations bombard us. While falling into routine may seem natural and safe, we shouldn’t let it stop us from reveling in new challenges and happenings. In the end, every twist and turn that is thrown our way plays a role in shaping the people we become and the lives we live.

As our fellow Gauchos exit into the real world to face newfound independence and responsibility, another wave of incoming freshman become a part of the UCSB community. As stressful as these times can be, opening our hearts and minds will prepare us for the endless possibilities that may be thrown our way, assisting us on this long and astounding journey called life.
Allie Lebos hopes the upcoming graduating class keeps open minds and hearts as they continue on.

Allie Lebos hopes the upcoming graduating class keeps open minds and hearts as they continue on.

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