Written by Lily Mitchell, NALJA Director

One of my most recent adventures in life is having to adjust to moving away and going to college. This is an exciting yet scary time for most people.

This adventure came with so many new responsibilities and freedom. No one is there to tell me what to do and push me in the right direction. It was quite the adjustment having to be the person to push myself to try new things that I wouldn’t normally do. It has also been one of the greatest things for me. I learned what I can do, and I can slowly work towards being the person I want to be in the future.

Sometimes I think we tend to look at change as something that is scary or that we don’t want to do. If we give it a chance, we can see how good it can really be for us. We may like the old because it was working and gives us a certain level of comfort. Although we may like that comfort, I try to remember this quote by John D. Rockefeller, “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” We don’t know the possibilities of what could happen if we look at change as something that is scary.

The cattle industry is a prime example of change for the better. It is an industry that is constantly changing and improving to meet consumer needs. As cattle producers, we always strive to improve our cattle herds to have the best and most profitable animals. Why should we settle for anything less than that in our personal lives? We shouldn’t be afraid of change and embrace the improvements it can make in our lives.