Tomorrow is the first day of my last semester of undergrad. I was thinking today about how many things in my life have changed since I was a freshman. Change is guaranteed in life, so I’ve learned time and time again (the hard way) it’s better to embrace change and come out ahead than resist it only to be forced to change later.
Here’s a list of things or viewpoints in my life that have changed since Freshman year…
| Freshman Year | Senior Year | |
| My bedtime is… | what’s that? | 11 o’clock is pushin it |
| The night before a test… | Study as long as it takes, pull all-nighters if you have to. Also, waste time in the library. | Review the material a few times, then go to bed to be up for work in the morning |
| WalMart runs | Go ahead and buy everything that looks good at Walmart | Make a list. Buy it. Save as much as you can. |
| Use of Internet | When I go to send an email, search the web, or check Facebook I use my laptop | When sending an email, searching the web, checking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, Sportscenter, and the weather I use my phone |
| Phone | Slide-up Phone | iPhone |
| Sleeping in means… | 10 or 11 o’clock | 8 o’clock |
| When packing to go home for winter break… | pack your whole room in case you need it | pack two sweatshirts and all your work clothes |
| Selfies | Hate | Still hate |
My freshman year I didn’t want to be a senior. I didn’t want the responsibility and I viewed the mature lifestyle as boring, which is how every freshman in college initially views the real world. I wasn’t looking forward to the responsibilities, work, and growing up that I knew it would take to become who I am today. But the responsibilities and work came and I had to decide to embrace them or fall behind.
As a comical example, my old self couldn’t imagine ever wanting a Peppermint White Mocha without the full amount of sweetener; but, as time grew on I found that it was too sweet for my taste and I started cutting back on the syrup.
One day you think you wouldn’t ever want something and the next year you not only want it but you can’t imagine it any other way.
When I’m faced with the future, change is intimidating and part of me wants to resist it. This list of changes shows details in my life that have changed, but they really reflect attitudes in my life that have changed. For this reason, when I look at the list of comparisons above I’m thankful.
Change doesn’t do that. Growing amidst change does.
Think about where you are in life right now. Especially for seniors, there may be change that is happening or there may be change coming that you’re dreading. However, if you choose to grow with change you end up better off and happy for change in the first place.
The bottom line is that each year I have grown more and more into who I am today and I am thankful for who I am now. I haven’t grown into exactly who I want to be, if that’s even possible. But by growing and embracing change I can become closer to who I want to be.
I would encourage everyone to write down a list of things that have changed over the years. Then put a checkmark next to the ones you are thankful for or know you will be thankful for one day. Use this to have a positive attitude towards change in the future. You may not be where you thought you’d be, but my hope is that you’re happy with how you’ve grown.
I am forced to rely on the fact that God knows more than we know. Trust in Him. Embrace change. Prepare yourself for it. Grow this year like you’ve never grown before.
May it be your best year yet.
LVL 
What a great lesson at all stages of our lives.
Love, mom