"Change: It", 350 words
Change: It
Change: Challenge it.
The past two years have taught me that change can be unexpected, and how I choose to embrace it is up to me. I like to confront change by welcoming, embracing, and ultimately, growing from it. At the onset of the pandemic, change - both big and small – was happening daily. While these changes challenged me in so many ways, and changed my life professionally and socially, I ultimately chose to embrace these changes rather than shy away from them.
Overnight, my office and home became one, blurring the lines between work and home. At first, I thought this blurred boundary was great: maybe it is efficient to put the final touches on a deck while I simultaneously cook dinner for my kids! However, I soon realized that what began as a blurred boundary was actually becoming a nonexistent one. The once calming rumble of Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood outside my kitchen window gave way to a symphony of cellphone dings, pings, and rings. After only a few weeks, I recognized the adverse impacts that working and living in the same space had taken on my mental and physical health. I had not challenged this change, I simply accepted it.
After one too many nights spent sacrificing “me time” to complete work tasks, I decided to challenge the notion that work and home were one by rebuilding this essential boundary. I left my laptop at my desk, closing it when the time came to prepare the family meal. I reestablished working hours, understanding that there was no need to continue working late into the night just because I could. I turned my phone off, and again began to enjoy the sounds of the city instead. While these changes may seem small, their positive impact was immeasurable: I realized I could be a force of change, not forced to change.
I’ve learned that daring to confront challenge can create some of the most meaningful changes in life. I look forward to working through future challenges alongside my Stern peers, and together I know that we can grow and change for the better.