Comfort Re-Zoning

Each and every day, we are faced with routine tasks. We have the choice, the freedom, to step out of the monotony. We have the ability to think, act and respond differently to situations. But the majority of the time, we don’t.

As students, we all can have hectic lives and often choose to live in our comfort zones. We don’t stray from routine, and we would not intentionally put ourselves in an awkward situation. We stray from the nervous feelings and changes, but have you ever thought this could hinder your college experience?

Based on personal experience, I can tell you succeeding is much more difficult if you aren’t willing to put yourself out there, even a little bit.

One short year ago, I was sitting in my residential college lounge, researching universities with journalism programs closer to home. I was one of those miserable freshmen who could not find any enjoyment in college life. I just wanted to go home. I felt like the transition from a graduating class of approximately 90 students to a University with more than 10,000 students was entirely too much.

In the beginning, it was a culture shock. There were different people from all walks of life here in what I thought was a small country town. When I had visited Murray, I felt like it was similar to my home, a place where people pass each other and wave because they know each other, not just to be friendly.

Despite loving journalism and the program at Murray State, I loathed the unfortunate reality that I?lived outside my comfort zone.

I longed for home every single day or even the slightly less comfortable, but a work-in-progress dorm room.

Even the smallest casual encounters such as talking to strangers in classes and on elevators made me uncomfortable and nervous. This was the first time that I had been around strangers, in general.

I also grew increasingly tired of other students and professors lecturing about “getting involved,” because I came here to earn my degree and hopefully write for the college newspaper, end of story.

Though I refused to “get involved,” I remained true to my goals of writing for the newspaper and slowly, but surely everything fell into place.

During the summer, things started to become a little more clear about what I wanted to do with my degree after graduating. Since then, I learned I have adapted to the change better than I expected. Choosing to go to a school three hours away from home made me finally step out of my comfort zone, talk to people and experience life outside my hometown.

Transitioning from high school to college is never easy. It’s like learning to ride a bike for the first time. If you want to walk your whole life, that is okay and you will get places. However, if you step out of your comfort zone and learn to ride the bike, you will be able to get there much faster.

 

Column by Hunter Harrell, Assistant Features Editor

 

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