Change can be difficult.

But I’m quickly learning how to deal with it.

In the past year, I have graduated college, started at the Hartselle Enquirer, moved out of my parents house, gotten married, gotten a dog, helped put out 94 papers, worked on 15 magazines and said goodbye to a great editor.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the real world is definitely different from college. Not to say that I didn’t feel prepared, but I was surprised by the structure difference in my daily routine.

From the time we are placed in kindergarten (or even earlier for some in daycare), we have a regular daily routine given to us by superiors. We grow up following that routine, only straying during holidays and summers when we get a break from school. Eventually when we finish our education, we get to help determine our own schedule.

It’s been eleven months since I started working full-time, and I still am getting used to setting my own schedule.

When I call someone to set up an appointment, I usually try to let them set the time since my days are very flexible even if I’m extremely busy. My write-ups can always be put off or my pictures can wait to be toned until right before deadline, so I can talk to more people and write those stories up later. I’m also getting used to never really feeling caught up.

I never would have considered myself particularly good at change, but I guess I’m getting better at it or at least used to it.

I feel like all of the changes I’ve experienced over the past year have been good for me whether I welcomed them or not, so I’m thankful for the way my first year in the real world has gone.

Joy Haynes is a staff writer for the Hartselle Enquirer.