Thinking back on major transitional periods of my life, I have realized how different my life would be if I had decided to resist change. When I was in my sophomore year of high school, I made the decision to leave my current swim club, SOLO Aquatics, to join a different one, PASA-DZ. The choice to switch teams was a difficult one, as I loved my teammates, my coach, and the laidback environment of SOLO. However, I had become a more dedicated, competitive swimmer and wished to train hard with more athletes of my age and speed. The team environment of PASA-DZ was friendly yet intense and intimidating. After much consideration, I chose to take the leap and try it out. This decision greatly shaped my identity and my development throughout high school. I became stronger and more resilient, and developed a deep passion for swimming and racing. If I had stayed with SOLO, I probably would not have chosen to swim in college. If I did not swim in college, I probably would have applied to different colleges and it is quite likely that I would not have ended up at Bryn Mawr surrounded by such unique people and opportunities. This single decision has had such a significant impact on the direction of my life. From this insight, I have begun to understand that change is what gives life much of its meaning.
Another major change in my life was moving from my hometown in California to the east coast for college. The fact that I would be living thousands of miles apart from my parents in a place with a different time zone was unnerving. At first, the transition to college was just as difficult, if not more difficult, than I was expecting. But over time, I adjusted to my new home in Pennsylvania and the many differences from the San Francisco Bay Area. My choice to attend college out-of-state has given me a new appreciation for the west coast and how the different sides of the U.S. are both similar and different. I am very lucky to be able to compare the two and have a broader perspective of what it is like to live in different parts of the U.S. I love Pennsylvania and the east coast in general and I am glad to be able to live somewhere new. Just like my experience of changing swim teams, the major life transition of attending college far from home has helped me to grow into a more flexible, independent, and adaptable person.
Like anyone, I have experienced change in my life. Although the uncertainty of not knowing what will happen next can leave me frightened or anxious, I have learned to embrace it. I have discovered that safety and stability can only take one so far. It is with change that one grows and develops as a person. Major transitions in my life’s trajectory have shaped my identity and perception of the world. Likewise, they have helped me develop important skills that will serve me well when faced with uncertainty and challenges. Change is difficult, but the knowledge that I will grow as a person no matter what the outcome is helps me to welcome it.