How Perception Changed My Life

Change is inevitable. There’s no doubt about it. Change is a part of nature, just like the leaves change in autumn and the flowers bloom in the spring. Sometimes change is a good thing, other times not so much. I can remember being three years old, watching cartoons on television. Now, I am nineteen and I am a sophomore in college. Time passed slowly and all at once, and I am a changed person because of it. Looking back on my life, I experience a color wheel of emotions that are all worth it plus more. A lot of this has to do with the way my perception has changed since I was younger. Perception is defined as “the active process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting people, objects, events, situations, and activities” (Wood, 2014).

Last year at this time, I was just getting settled into college life. I was excited and anxious because everything was so new to me. I had so much energy that couldn’t escape fast enough. Fast forward to present day and I am still excited and anxious because my classes are much different. …show more content…
I didn’t see her coming, but now I can’t imagine her leaving. We met in an elevator a week before freshman year started. She wore all black, had bug-eyed sunglasses on, and chewed her gum like it was going out of style. She said she hated elevators, so I asked her why she didn’t take the stairs. She said she didn’t even realize the building had stairs. At first, I thought she was ditzy and dramatic. Then, we began going to classes together and eating lunch together during our breaks. I have come to realize since then that she is so far from what I thought she was. She is actually very intelligent and can argue her point like a lawyer. As one of my best friends, I can say that she has definitely shattered the expectations I had of her. Like chapter three states, “Expectations affect our perceptions in a variety of communication situations” (Wood,