Your Comfort Zone Will Kill You

As inspiration to myself, here's a work-in-progress list of all the things I never would've done if I had stayed in my comfort zone.

Volunteering

Going to things by yourself can be really scary. I have worked hard to stamp out this anxiety by attending service events by myself. Not only has this made me feel more comfortable and brought me many close friends, but it also inspired my Miss Draper Royalty social impact initiative, Finding And Embracing Service Opportunities.

Miss Draper Royalty

Being in the Miss Draper Royalty in 2022 was one of the best things I've ever done. Rather than being like a traditional pageant, the application consists of an interview, resume, essay, and social impact initiative, and awards winners a scholarship and the opportunity to engage in a year of community service. I made many connections and lifelong friends through this program, and I was able to serve my community while getting to know my neighbors and city on a deeper level.

BYU

I really enjoyed attending Utah Valley University, and I would've loved staying there, creating deeper connections with my friends and enjoying campus life. But I knew I would love the Editing & Publishing program at Brigham Young University, so I switched schools during the COVID-19 lockdown.

It was hard to leave UVU, especially without really being able to say goodbye, but I made a conscious effort to stay in contact with my friends there, and now my circle is even bigger than before, and I've been able to enjoy two beautiful campuses and two sets of school traditions.

Editing

I wasn't sure if I was cut out for editing at first. I have great instincts and I love to read, but everyone in my program seemed so much more put together and knowledgeable than me. I stuck with it and worked harder than I ever have before, and now I'm confident in my skills and ready to rock my first in-house position.

Nannying

I began working in childcare at a young age, and it scared me. It's a lot of responsibility, and as I got older and more experienced, I got more and more responsibility in childcare. The skills I've gained from these experiences have set me up for my career and my life, and have made me who I am. They've brought me countless opportunities and connections.

Without earning money by working so hard and so frequently throughout high school and college, I also wouldn't have had many of the experiences I've allowed myself to have, like living in Thailand.

Thailand

When I was 15, my best friend and her sister told me about a program that sends volunteers to teach English abroad. By the time we were old enough, my friend and her sister were unable to go, so I went by myself, moving 8,000 miles from everyone and everything I'd ever known. I made the best memories with the kids and my group, who I became very close with, and experienced life in a really special and wonderful culture.

NYC

My experience in Thailand, as well as my nannying and editing background, led me to move to New York City. I've always loved it here, and I'm so excited to see where this chapter takes me.

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Blessings, surprises, and open doors are all around if you look for them. The same goes for regrets, hardships, and closed doors.

You never know where life will lead you if you don't allow it to lead you there. I'm by no means perfect, and I need to push myself out of my comfort zone in many aspects of my life to this day, but I'm constantly reminding myself to put it all on the line, because as John Lennon once sang, "life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

My advice to future me, and to you, dear reader, is to pay attention to the things you make excuses to yourself about, and pursue them anyway.

<3 Ashley