Similar to a small child physically carrying around a security blanket because it is familiar to them and makes them feel secure in their environment, we all have a metaphoric security blanket: a comfort zone.

Comfort zones can be physical places that we go to, for example going home on breaks, but comfort zones can also be a mindset, certain types of music or even the classes that we take.

As college students there are so many options for classes to take and we can either take classes that fit inside our comfort zone or we can branch out and take something we never would have thought of previously.

Students attend college for many reasons and one key reason for most is to grow, not only in knowledge, but as a person. If staying within the confine of your comfort zone is all you do, then are you really accomplishing much of anything?

J.K. Rogers, a GTF who teaches Acting 1 at the University of Oregon, helps many students break out of their shells. In regards to comfort zones, Rogers said, “They’re not necessarily challenging somebody in terms of growth and development.”

While stepping out of your comfort zone can be scary, intimidating and whatever other equally unsettling word you use to fill in the blank, there is much room for growth when you take the leap.

Taking an acting class is a prime example of taking that leap. The class challenges students to go against norms and to do out of the box types of things, such as crawling around on the floor and acting like an animal, but it goes far beyond crazy exercises.

“Outside of the theater, the odds are pretty slim that someone is going to have to be a cow in public, but it is stepping out of that comfort zone and being willing to get up in front of people to talk, to interact, and so the skills that I’m hoping to instill in my students goes beyond just being silly,” Rogers said. “They are valuable resources they can pull upon when it comes time for them in their career to talk with people in public, to make a presentation or to go on a job interview.”

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a theater class that forces you out of your shell. The skills taught by stepping out of your comfort zone, no matter what that means for you, are skills that carry through your life. Whether or not you decide to take an acting class in college doesn’t matter, what matters is that at some point you decide to step outside of the box and try something new.

It could be taking a drawing class, religious studies class or even a difficult chemistry class that pushes your boundaries. Maybe for you, stepping out of your comfort zone means joining a club on campus or an intramural sports team.

How will you ever know if you like something without trying it? There is a reason some college students end up changing their majors several times, it is because they took a risk, stepped out and tried something new.

College is about growing and developing, which means finding out what you want to do and discovering your passions. Who we are right now is going to change exponentially as we go out into the future and find new, exciting endeavors.

There are so many benefits associated with stepping outside of your comfort zone and while going away to college is a stretch in itself, students should do their best to leave behind their metaphoric security blanket and try new things.

It’s okay to start out with small changes, but whatever you decide to do, be conscious of your comfort zone and try your best to take a step out of it.