Adaptability: Annoying, Uncomfortable… and Completely Necessary

The funny thing about change? No matter what stage of life you’re in, it never stops being a little inconvenient. One day, everything feels set—your routines, your habits, the way you do things—then suddenly, life throws a curveball, and you have to adjust.

Take my past three months. I got married, moved in with my wife, and now we’re figuring out how to live together. From big things like finances and renovations to small things like, “Wait… why do you fold bedsheets like that?” (Apparently, there’s a right way, and I have yet to discover it.)

At the same time, I co-founded Prep AI, a mobile app that helps students land jobs faster (think swipe-to-apply meets an AI mock interview coach). Turns out, starting a company is a crash course in adaptability. One moment, you’re building something exciting; the next, you’re wondering if students even need what you’ve created. And just when you finally understand ChatGPT and Gemini, some new AI company—like DeepSeek—comes out of nowhere to shake things up.

And that’s the thing about change. It’s rarely convenient. It doesn’t wait for the “perfect time.” But it’s also unavoidable.

A new semester, a new team, a challenge you didn’t sign up for—we’ve all been there. And yeah, sometimes it’s frustrating. But it can also be fun, fulfilling, and full of moments we wouldn’t trade for anything.

Here’s something to think about: Remember a time when you had to adapt—and handled it better than expected.

Maybe it was switching schools, adjusting to a new routine, or even finally getting used to a new phone after resisting the upgrade for way too long. Got one? Take a second to really think about it.

Now, fast-forward to the next time change inevitably shows up. When you catch yourself thinking, Not this again. I don’t have it in me to keep adjusting…

Well we’ve all been there. But maybe, in those moments, it helps to remind ourselves of the times we did adapt—the proof that we’ve figured things out before, even when it felt frustrating or impossible at first. Sometimes, that little reminder is all our brain needs to build the confidence to keep going. I’ve been reminding myself of that lately. And honestly? It’s helped quite a bit.

Talk soon.

Dillon

Bio

Dillon Mendes is an alumnus of the Top 35 under 35 global changemaker awards, the co-founder of PrepAI (the modern way for young people to apply for jobs), and a TEDx & youth speaker. Over the past seven years, Dillon has travelled across North America, speaking to thousands of students about community impact and student leadership.

He has also previously worked in Management Consulting at Deloitte, Growth at DarwinAI (acquired by Apple), and co-founded the social enterprise, PickWaste (featured on CBC, CTV, and CityNews).

Professional life aside, Dillon enjoys playing spikeball, strength training, and eating sushi.