Facing Change in Four Steps
Change is inevitable. Sometimes we don’t expect it, and sometimes we are scared of it, but change will come, nonetheless. One thing I have learned for certain, though, is that refusing to acknowledge or adapt to changes can be harmful, as it can cause us to miss out on rewarding opportunities. Thankfully, Spencer Johnson’s Who Moved My Cheese? helped me identify four major steps for facing change: anticipate change, accept change, adapt to change, and enjoy change. After reflecting on Johnson’s insights, I’ve realized the importance of some of the changes I made as an undergraduate — and the continued importance of being able to face change.
The first thing I keep in mind is that change can happen at any moment; therefore, I must anticipate change. I admit that I wasn’t always good at anticipating changes. For example, during my freshman year of college, I stuck to a simple routine: I would go to class and then go home. I was getting good grades, so I figured my approach to college was setting me up for success. The summer following my freshman year, however, I learned that being actively involved in extracurriculars is just as important as good grades when it comes to getting into graduate school. This information shook my world because it made me realize that my simple routine would not cut it for graduate school applications. I had not anticipated change.
Even though I failed to anticipate change, I was quick to accept that I needed to change my routine. If I wanted to stand a chance at getting into a graduate program, I needed to get involved in extracurriculars. Therefore, the summer following my freshman year, I visited UNLV’s Involvement Center and Department of Psychology websites to learn about the various clubs and research labs on campus. By the beginning of my sophomore year, I had joined UNLV’s French Club, UNLV’s Psychology Club, and the Interactive Measurement Group. Had I not accepted that I needed to make a change, I’m not sure if I would’ve ever joined these amazing organizations.
The third step, adapting to change, was the most challenging for me. I went from being in auditoriums with 50-70 other students to being in a room with 10 highly motivated lab mates. I went from hour-long lectures to three-hour-long collaborative meetings. In my classes, I was used to blending into crowded lecture halls and never speaking up or taking initiative. That simply wouldn’t do anymore – especially in the lab. So I adapted my routine to allow me to dedicate more time to my extracurriculars: I cut back my hours at work, I spent more time on campus, I attended all lab meetings, and I showed up to most club events. By my second semester as an active member, I was used to the pace and workload – and I was even ready to adapt again: I accepted multiple leadership roles in the lab and applied to Psi Chi. Had I not adapted in the first place, I would still just be another face in the crowd.
Lastly, it is important to enjoy change. Lots of good things can come from change – they sure did for me! Compared to three years ago, I feel much more confident in my writing, public speaking, and organization skills. I have even learned statistical analyses that aren’t typically taught until graduate school. Indeed, I have come to enjoy change because I have learned new skills, made great friends in the lab and clubs, and can count on the mentorship of my club advisors and Dr. Barchard. If I would’ve continued simply going to class then going home, I would’ve missed out on these rewarding experiences and connections.
Since joining the lab, I have come across new challenges that require some sort of change every semester, but now I have a helpful set of steps to help me face changes. I can apply the four steps I learned from Johnson to every situation – no matter how big or small a change is needed. For example, early in 2020 Dr. Barchard and I anticipated the possibility of going remote weeks before the pandemic forced us into a lockdown. Even though the rapid spread of COVID-19 surprised many of us, it was crucial for us to accept our new reality (we could not stop nor deny the pandemic), and to adapt to the situation (we had to figure out how to run the lab remotely). Though we faced many hardships, it was still important for me to enjoy the good parts along the way: we expanded our lab, we improved our communication and technology skills, and we even reduced our carbon footprint by not driving to campus regularly!
During my freshman year, I used to be scared of change because I was comfortable with my simple routine. After accepting that I need to change the way I was approaching college, however, my undergraduate journey became much more rewarding. Today, I continue following Johnson’s philosophy: I anticipate change, I accept change, I adapt to change, and I enjoy change. I know these steps will help me in graduate school, at work, and in all other aspects of life. They may help you, too. If you have ever found yourself struggling to deal with changes, I highly suggest reading Spencer Johnson’s Who Moved My Cheese?
Reference
Johnson, S. (1998). Who moved my cheese?: An amazing way to deal with change in your work and in your life. Putnam.
Jelsy Cadenas-Santos has been a member of the Interactive Measurement Group since the fall of 2018. During her time in the lab she has taken on various roles, such as Poster Supervisor, Website Coordinator, and Managing Editor for Connections. Jelsy graduated with a B.A. in psychology in the spring of 2021. This fall, she plans on serving as Dr. Barchard’s head teaching assistant for her course in introductory statistics.