Saying Yes to Adventure

Our comfort zone is so easy to stay inside of, that’s why it’s comfortable. Sometimes, we get opportunities outside of that zone, and it is important we take the ones that push us out of it in a good way.

I’ve grown up for most of my life in the state of Iowa and I now attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I’m in my junior year, so I’ve been in Lincoln, Nebraska, for almost three years. My comfort zone is quite literally physically retained to the square mileage of the cities I have spent most of my time in.

Last fall, I started my second year as a member of my chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America’s executive board. During one of our first meetings back at the start of the semester, our faculty adviser mentioned an opportunity to visit Chicago with another professor. That trip became my first trip with the National Millennial Gen Z Community.

I had been to Chicago once before with my PRSSA chapter, but this was a whole other adventure. I met so many amazing people from all around the United States. It felt like I left the trip with 20 more friends than I started the trip with.

The purpose of the trip was professional, but there was also a social aspect. Every professional meeting was made even more special through the friendships and relationships I built with each student on the trip.

I remember us all getting together one night to hang out. We were chatting and sitting all together like we had known each other forever.

That same night, I tried going to a concert two of the other students had tickets to. We were showing up late so we thought maybe I could get in and I thought, “Why not?” I was saying yes to another adventure.

Unfortunately, I was not able to get in, but it was the thought and attempt that counted in my heart. I still had an adventure, it just didn’t end the way I wanted it to. Trying is what matters. Saying yes to opportunities is what matters. Getting outside of your comfort zone is what matters.