There comes a point in everyone's life where they make a drastic change. For me, that was today, when I moved into my dorm and begin my new life as a college student. I should be excited about going to college and exploring everything that's out there, but instead, I'm worried and anxious about what I am leaving behind. I am starting a new phase in my life. I'm not sure I'm prepared for what's ahead or the radical growth expected in the upcoming weeks; I feel vulnerable.

I've never experienced living on my own and it's a hard thing to wrap my head around. Some part of me wants everything to continue and see what happens, however, another part of me wants to resist change and what's to come. I'm in an emotional limbo.

Life tends to do this on occasion, throwing us into loops and making our heads spin. Life leaves us frantically trying to regain control of situations and brace ourselves for what's next. We inherently want to keep control and make sure that we are never vulnerable to things.

Obviously, this doesn't always work out.

When we fight the flow of life, we can get a mental whiplash -- ultimately putting ourselves in a worse place. We do, however, have control over how we respond to change. Instead of trying to swim against the tides of life, maybe we should try to swim with the current and see things from a different perspective. We can grow from our experiences and learn more about ourselves by experiencing life with an open heart and an open mind.

As I begin my first week of college, I'm going to do this for myself. I am going to be open-minded and understand that this isn't the abrupt stop of one life, but a continuation of the same. I am not ending, but rather evolving. I am going to experience something entirely new for me and that's exciting. That's what life should be, a learning experience. So as I leave my home, I want you to know that no matter what happens in life, you will be okay. Things happen in life and they aren't always pleasant, but you are in control of how these things shape you and how you react. You are a strong, independent, beautiful being. We can experience so much if we allow ourselves to accept these experiences. So go out, explore and experience new things, because, in the end, you don't want to regret a thing.