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Tessa Pesicka / Her Campus
Pitt | Life

The Subtle Art Of Starting Over

Kelly Kowalewski Student Contributor, University of Pittsburgh
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Pitt chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

It’s inevitable: you do change a little (or sometimes a lot) each year, but what if you don’t have to wait for the new year to create your new life? Yep, you have full permission thanks to free will. Go ahead, try it. YOU wake up and decide to be whoever YOU want to be tomorrow, or even as you read this. Maybe much of it starts with habits, but first, it’s a mindset.

Last year, last week, or yesterday doesn’t matter — today you’re you. Turning your life from stagnant into your new story doesn’t require a perfect routine or for you to become a type A girl overnight. In fact, I highly encourage the opposite. Do something you’ve never done before, have been too scared to try, or strike up a conversation with someone new. I introduce to you the butterfly effect. If you don’t believe in theories, this isn’t me attempting to convince you or drag you down a rabbit hole — it’s psychology and a universal pattern. 

Every decision you make moves you. Don’t overthink it, though — that’s the key to letting go. Let it happen, and it’s okay to just exist and figure it out along the way. The memories, lessons and growth will follow as you evolve into this next version of yourself. Remember, you’re never meant to be in the same situations, conversations or ideas forever; nothing lasts that long — or nothing good anyway. That’s the best part about life: staying grounded in the moment so you can look back, reflect, remember and reach new heights. 

Still scared? Get out of the house, meet new people, and try new things — even if it means walking to class a different route or taking a new path home; you may even do it with a friend! Soon enough, you’ll get into that flow state to unlock your highest potential. 

Speaking of…let the ideas flow, and it will lead to bigger things than you can imagine. Do you have a creative project in mind? An itch to switch majors? A new passion for XYZ? A final straw to make you finally cut off the person who’s no longer serving you? A yearning for more? Make it happen; trust your instincts because only you know what you want and what you deserve. 

Try a new outfit, hair or makeup look — this isn’t about physical appearance but about experimenting with how investing in yourself makes you feel on the outside — ultimately placing you in the perfect position to control the outcomes of your experiences on the other side (or at least be okay with whatever happens and turn it into something beautiful). I promise you’ll start glowing like never before. 

If you’re feeling stressed or pressured during your time of transformation, keep in mind you’re doing it for past you, present you, and future you only. Pretend not to care about the outside opinions until you don’t. Go to the gym until it feels right enough to simply sweat out the stress. Complete your tasks until it feels like light work. Everything is placebo, and the manifestation of your dream life is at your fingertips right now.

One of my favorite activities to do as I enter into my next era is making a themed playlist to put me into that mode. Nothing makes you feel more than music does. Feel free to scroll on Spotify and let your new favorites come to you, and sprinkle some of your old ones into it — you’ll have the hottest collection for your sexy new self. 

The world is your oyster, so claim your own freedom with confidence. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. Just don’t take yourself so seriously, and you’re sure to find yourself slowly transcending into not just a rebrand, but your new YOU. One day, and soon, you’ll wake up living your dream life!

Kelly Kowalewski

Pitt '26

Kelly Kowalewski is a double major in Media & Professional Communications and Law, Criminal Justice & Society at the University of Pittsburgh, with a minor in Sociology. She is also pursuing certificates in Corporate & Community Relations and Writing for the Professions, with a focus in marketing and digital media.

On campus, Kelly is involved with The Pitt News as a Culture Writer and Advertising Sales Representative, WPTS Radio, the American Marketing Association on the Public Relations committee, an Event and Operations Intern with Pitt Athletics and Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority.

After moving to Southern California in middle school, she discovered a passion for writing and journaling, which led to becoming a published author. Her anonymous story appears in Dear Freedom Writer: Stories of Hardship and Hope from the Next Generation, alongside other young writers. This experience inspired her to pursue a career in writing across fields such as law, marketing, or journalism.

Outside of writing, Kelly enjoys spending time at the beach—her favorite being La Jolla Shores in Southern California. After returning to her hometown of Pittsburgh, she plans to launch her post-graduate career in Los Angeles, San Diego, New York City or any other big city that may just call her name.