It's Hard to Adjust

Lil' Bro: "I've got a concussion!"
Me: "From what? How? You okay?"
Lil' Bro: "Practice yesterday. I was coming across the middle of the field for a clear and right when I caught the pass, a kid on the team laid his shoulder into my jaw. And that's how it happened!"
Me: "Hahahaha. Welcome to college!"
Lil' Bro: "Tell me about it."

That was one of the most recent conversations we had after one of his lacrosse practices. After talking a little bit more about how practice has been going, he cut me off and said, "Okay, I gotta go meet up with my friends. I will call you later." Needless to say, the call back never happened, but I was okay with that. You see, for the last month and a half, he has been struggling a little bit with adjusting to college life. We have had many text messages, phone calls, and skype conversations about adjusting to his new surroundings and if he will be able to be successful or not. During one of our chats, I compared his struggles to those of someone new to 212, or any gym for that matter.

His level of confidence is on the low end and has to be built up over time. A common statment my bro would make is, "There is so much to learn. I will never get to their level!" In the gym, the first time onlookers make similar statements. "I will never be able to do that. It looks too hard."

Then, there's that awkward feeling of meeting new people that will eventually become part of your support system. His thoughts were that he will not make many new friends while at school, maybe some guys on the team, but that's it. This is also very similar to coming into classes for the first time and being among people who seem to have been working out together for a while and you feel like the new face. How am I going to fit in?

The comfort level that has been built up over four years of high school is now gone. Everything is new, the classes, teachers, classrooms, teammates, dorm rooms, etc. This is very similar to a new member of the gym. They experience new coaches, equipment, and exercises.

Let me implore you as I did my brother. Give anything new some time and be open to it. Once you get through the adjustment period and that awkward feeling has passed, a whole new world will open up to you and then you will truly be on the road to greatness.

Remember, "Change is hard work. Permanent, positive change is even harder. It can't be done overnight. It requires not just a vision but the long term commitment to see it through."

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