1. Embracing Change /Change Agent:
Change is inevitable. A process which is constantly in motion. What makes me an “agent
of change” is ultimately understanding that change is a process, and will make itself
evident whether it’s accepted or not. Change can be great if accepted the correct way,
but takes some adjusting to. Throughout the duration of Graduate School I have had to
embrace change in multiple ways. Marriage, switching into a different field, and a son on
the way. Not to mention the rigor behind graduate school already presented. Change can
be uncomfortable because it’s not part of our typical norm. Adjusting to “change” comes
with many challenges because of the time and effort it took initially to adapt to a particular
routine. What I have learned to believe while embracing change, is appreciating and
enjoying the process it takes through the adjustment period. At times it has been
extremely difficult to maintain a consistent schedule. With classes, multiple workshops,
constant developmental learning, and monitoring family needs, just to name a few, has
been a full plate! In all honesty my adjusting hasn’t went the way I have anticipated.
Attempting to juggle a rigorous schedule while maintaining grades, family, and social
responsibility has been extremely uncomfortable at times. Embracing the change agent I
was in need of came with having that discomfort and understanding that this feeling is a
sense of development. Let’s say for instance you are at the starting line of a race.
Ready, Set, Go! You start the beginning of the race strong, but towards the middle, your
body starts getting fatigue. Your mind starts getting fatigue. It starts to rain. The rain then
clears up and the sun is now glaring on you while you are running with multiple variables
constantly interacting. What do you do? You adjust. You catch your wind. You switch
your breathing habits. You understand that you have to switch your mode to adjust to the
changes around you while you are competing in the race. You have embraced change.
Those adjustments of pacing yourself, not getting to far back or not attempting to get to
far ahead while conserving energy for that final push, is part of the process. Adjusting to
change can be extremely difficult if we allow it. Trials of self-reflection has helped me
embrace change, while also staying committed through the duration of the cycle.
Understanding these tools and committing myself to the process will preserve an “agent
of change” approach which in turn will lead to an increase with adjustable tactics while
perfecting the dynamic in what being an “agent of change” is about.