From French Vanilla to Matcha: How Coffee Helped Me Embrace Change

Back home in Brooklyn, my go-to coffee order was simple, reliable, and very me: a French vanilla cold brew with oat milk from Dunkin’. It was the perfect blend of sweet and strong—just the right amount of comfort to carry me through my busy days. Whether I was running errands, hanging with my cousins, or commuting to high school, you could pretty much bet I had that drink in hand. It was my routine, my comfort, my little treat to myself.

But when I moved to Miami to start college at the University of Miami, everything changed—including my coffee order.

At first, it felt weird to stray from something so familiar. Dunkin’ was still around, sure, but suddenly I found myself surrounded by new cafes, new vibes, and new drinks I couldn’t even pronounce. One day, a friend convinced me to try an iced matcha latte. I was skeptical. Green? Earthy? No espresso? But I took the leap and I never looked back.

Then came iced chai lattes, dirty chais, and even lavender cold foam (who knew that was a thing?). Before I knew it, I was rotating between a handful of “go-to’s” depending on my mood. I had become that person who couldn’t be tied down to one drink—and honestly, I kind of loved it.

That shift in my coffee choices mirrored something bigger happening in my life. At home, I was used to staying in my comfort zone. I had my family, my neighborhood, my routines. I loved it— and I still do—but I was also very used to what was familiar. I didn’t branch out much, didn’t take too many risks. I knew what worked for me, and I stuck with it.

But moving away for college pushed me to break out of that bubble, and not just with my coffee. It was the first time I had to really ask myself, Who am I when I’m not surrounded by everything I know? That question scared me at first, but it also excited me. Suddenly, I found myself eagerly saying yes to new experiences. I joined clubs. I met people from all over the country. I explored different parts of the city, tried new foods, and went to events I never would’ve thought to attend back home.

I even surprised myself socially. Back in high school, I was comfortable with my close-knit group of friends and rarely stepped outside of that circle. But in college, I started striking up conversations with strangers in class, grabbing lunch with new friends, and stepping into leadership roles that I would’ve been too shy to take on just a few years ago. I was no longer afraid to be seen, heard, or even challenged. I welcomed it.

Trying new coffee drinks might sound like a small thing, but it represented something bigger: the shift from sticking to what’s comfortable to chasing what’s possible. That iced matcha latte was more than a trendy order—it was a reminder that stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to new favorites, new paths, and new versions of yourself you never knew existed.

Now, when I’m standing in line at a coffee shop, I never order the same thing two days in a row. It’s become a small act of spontaneity in my day; one that reflects something so much bigger. I’ve learned that growth doesn’t always happen in giant leaps. Sometimes, it starts with a green drink you weren’t sure about.

While I’ll always have a soft spot for that French vanilla cold brew—the drink that got me through my Brooklyn days—I’m grateful for everything I’ve discovered since. Because if college has taught me anything, it’s that life outside your comfort zone isn’t just worth exploring…it’s where the magic really happens.