This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at USFSP chapter.

Time to move on.

With a new year comes realization. It may be hard to admit to yourself that a chapter in your life is coming to a close, but once you sit down and think everything through, you open yourself up to new opportunities.

More often than not, you hold yourself back from trying something new because a part of you is still holding on to the possibility of something else. It can be scary to realize that something you loved with a passion just doesn’t fit into your life anymore.

For me, that something was color guard, a sport built around performance and visual art. I have been performing and competing in color guard from 7th grade to senior year. I worked myself up to our team’s captain and enjoyed every minute of competition. But most importantly, I loved our practices. That is where I really got to know my team members and build friendships that helped mold me into the person I am today.

I graduated high school back in 2015 with the dream of moving on to competing in the WGI (Winter Guard International) division of the sport. But sometimes reality can hit you like a train.

I’m always asked and implored to at least audition for a team because I have the skills to compete with some of the best performers in the state if I practiced hard enough.

However, sometimes you’re held back by your desires. Holding onto this dream made me put performing again ahead of other great opportunities.

Image Credit goes to Ryan Hodgson from ryanintheus.com

I have come to the point where I have thoroughly thought it through and realized that even though color guard was my passion for years, it’s over.

I’m not saying I’ll completely isolate myself from the sport: I can always go and support my friends who still compete and even help out my mentors. But now that I have come to this conclusion, I can focus on bigger and greater adventures.

2017 has brought some wonderful people into my life. They have helped me make goals and decisions that will affect my education and career in tremendous ways.

This year is the year of building myself up and preparing for my future journey.

Everything will be okay. Take the time to set your priorities. Let go of whatever is holding you back and reach out for that new adventure.

Life isn’t about repeating the same day: it’s about finding a new path that you haven’t yet explored.

So go on – find that new chapter in your journey and turn the page.

HCXOXO,

Vanessa Rivera

Finding Your New Chapter

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