I don’t think I am alone when I say this: change is hard. And it really sucks.

Accepting change has always been difficult for me. I have never been able to grasp how things can change seemingly all at once, right under my nose with a neon blinking sign that says “BUCKLE UP, BUMPY ROAD AHEAD.”

Even more so, I struggle most to accept change in regard to the relationships I have with the people in my life.

Going to college has taught me a lot of things, such as how bad I am at managing my personal finances and how powerful a 20-minute nap between classes can be.

It has also taught me that people just grow apart—whether you are states away or under the same roof.

I used to think change was synonymous with bad. I would blame myself for it and over-extend myself in order to close up any distance between myself and someone else.

As I have gotten older and as I near the end of my final semester of college, I have realized that while it may not always exactly be a good thing at first, change is not bad.

Growing apart is a part of growing up. And just because you grow apart from someone does not mean all of the good things you shared have to be tainted by your present relationship. It just means you have to either hold on a little tighter to the memories or you have to be ready to let it all go so you can go on, too.

Often when change occurs, we are quick to point our fingers and assume the role of the victim in the relationship. However, growing apart is different. It just happens. And that’s it. Sometimes no matter how much you try to reach out to make lunch dates that will never go on the calendar or how many times you tell someone you miss them, your present relationship may just remain stagnant.

And we all need to realize that is OK.

As we get older, time becomes more fleeting, priorities change and people evolve. We all have different journeys calling us to adventure. Answering those calls does not make you a bad person, friend or partner. It just makes you a human who is trying to figure out where you have to go. Everyone else is doing it, too.

Your growth does not need to be stunted by change—it should be the reason you do grow. Embrace change and remember it is a natural part of life.

Carole Hodorowicz is a senior journalism major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or at cdhodorowicz@eiu.edu.