Change is inevitable. Change is constant.
Hearing these words rarely makes the experience easier. Understanding that life moves forward does not make it any less difficult to live through life’s transitions.
Like many students at Las Positas College, my time here is coming to an end. I will soon begin a graduate program to pursue a career in journalism. It is a transition I have worked toward for years, and that comes with mixed emotions.
I expected this moment to feel more seamless–a definitive “click” where I would suddenly feel ready. Instead, I find myself going through the motions.
That realization has been unsettling.
I am excited for the future and will miss those I leave behind. But there’s this discomfort that lingers.
I have felt a level of unease during changes in the past, but this transition feels more intense and I’m unsure why. It’s become a constant reminder that even if change is constant, the navigation does not become easier no matter how much time has passed.
Psychologically, change—expected or otherwise—often triggers stress by disrupting routine and introduces an element of uncertainty. Logically, I know the stress of moving to a new city is temporary. However, there is this lingering discomfort that isn’t rooted in the change of scenery.
Much of this unease comes from the unknown.I don’t know if I will have the same level of support that I received during my time at Las Positas. Forming new relationships takes time and moving forward means that I will have to start over.
During my time here, I have had access to people who made challenges easier to manage. Friends, mentors and familiar faces provided a sense of belonging and comfort that cannot be packed into a moving box.
That kind of support is not automatic in a new environment. It takes time to build.
Starting over in this way can feel unsettling. Building new relationships takes effort, and genuine connection rarely forms instantly. There is a period of adjustment where everything feels unfamiliar.
It is easy to underestimate the weight of established relationships until they begin to change.
This discomfort isn’t just about entering a new environment. Rather the quiet grief of leaving a familiar one.
There is a sense of loss that comes with change, even when it’s a positive change. It may not be obvious, but it is present in small ways—the loss of routine, proximity and familiarity.
That awareness makes this transition feel more significant.
There is also added pressure in what comes next. Graduate school is not just an academic milestone, it’s a pivotal step closer to a meaningful career. It comes with the weight of increased expectations—to be more focused and certain. To chart a clearer path forward.
That pressure can make the transition feel more serious.
Yet, this discomfort may be a natural part of meaningful change. Stepping into unfamiliar situations is often the only way forward.
While that does not make it any easier to experience it provides context and purpose.
The discomfort is not something to ignore. It reflects the value of what I am leaving behind and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
Rather than trying to eliminate that feeling, it is more useful to understand it.
It stems from connection, from routine and the desire to find that same sense of belonging in a new place. Change does not get easier simply because it becomes familiar. Each transition brings its own challenges and expectations.
There may never be a moment when everything feels completely settled or certain.
Moving forward can feel uncertain and uncomfortable.
That does not make it the wrong decision.
Being ready is rarely a clear feeling. Sometimes, it is simply the decisive choice to keep walking despite the fog.
I don’t feel entirely ready.
But I am moving forward anyway.
For now, that is enough.
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TOP ILLUSTRATION: Change is a natural part of life, but can cause psychological barriers because the human brain favors predictability. Feelings of stress and anxiety are common when leaving a familiar environment. (Illustration by Jesse Naranjo/The Express)
Sabrina Hossain is a staff writer for The Express. Follow her on X @WritersBlock678.
