Step Out of Your Comfort Zone: Embracing Growth in College

By: Kristen Mihich

In the whirl of being a college student, it is easy to consistently stay in our comfort zones, where we feel most at ease in everyday life. These ‘comfy’ havens confine us, preventing us from reaching our full potential. Here are three ways to step out of your comfort zone and uncover hidden opportunities and potential. 

1. Embracing Failure: The #1 reason we stay in our comfort zone is the fear of failure, which is inevitable. Yet, we avoid it every day. Shift your mindset around failure from something negative to a step toward your next achievement. This turns each setback into a moment for growth. 

2. Cultivating Independence: Independence is crucial for growth. Being confident in who you are helps you navigate life’s decisions and align them with your goals. It’s not always easy to go against the grain and be independent, but you make your best decisions. 

3. Finding Support: Whether it’s family, a friend, or a mentor, having a support system is important for guidance in everyday life, as well as encouragement when stepping out of your comfort zone. Finding people who support you in different stages of life is not only key to embracing growth, but also fundamental to your happiness.

It is easy to find ourselves in our comfort zone, but embracing failure, cultivating independence, and finding support are three pathways to embrace your growth. The time is now to take that extra step, challenge ourselves, and make mistakes. In these moments, when we push ourselves, we flourish as students and individuals. If we don’t do it, who will?