Embracing Uncertainty

Uncertainty is something we face everyday. As humans we are naturally triggered to believe that uncertainty is scary. But what if it is not? What if uncertainty is something to welcome with open arms and embrace for all it is?

As my last semester of college approaches I cannot help but wonder what is going to happen when I graduate. There are moments when I become fearful of where I will end up or if I will get a good job, but most of my moments are filled with excitement and gratitude. I can look forward to whatever may be coming because I know it will be great. I am grateful for the excitement I have because I have already had the best journey here. 

This summer I had the privilege of working as an intern in Los Angeles for one of the nation’s top off-price retailers. I was way over my head. This was the first time I was going to have to live on my own, make new friends and be isolated on the other side of the country for a whole 3 months– totally out of my comfort zone. In the midst of the questions and all the uncertainty I reminded myself to breathe. I thought, haven’t you done this all before? It was not quite the same, but I had been in that position once before. This is the moment I understood that we do not have to have all of the answers to life’s questions. 

I traced back to that memory of coming to college in 2016. I had to meet all new friends, live with strangers, and live 4 hours away from my family (which honestly felt like the other side of the country back then). I was extremely doubtful and had a million questions running through my head all the time. Would I find a good group of friends? Would I want to be involved on campus? Would I even get into a sorority? Would my social life and school life be what I hoped they would be? I was not embracing uncertainty. I wanted to know all of the answers and what the next four years would hold for me, but I was so wrong to live that way. 

Looking back on those moments, I laugh at myself. Needless to say, I am glad I pushed myself when I came to college even though I was scared. I have had such a blessed experience. I did find a good group of friends, I did get involved, I got into the best sorority (I may be bias), and my social and school life are far better than I could have ever asked for. My days and nights have been filled with laughter, love, tears and warmth– all which has made me forget about the doubts and questions I have ever had. 

My gratitude for embracing uncertainty is unmatched to any other emotion I have felt recently. I genuinely believe in falling in love with the unknown. Life ends up being so amazing when we don’t try and figure out all of the answers and our fears become so, so small. Take it from someone who has taken almost four years to figure it out– life is better that way. 

“Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won't have a title until much later.” —Bob Goff.

XoXo - Alyssa Jennings, Fall ‘16