When I was a first-year, I always thought editorials like this one were clichÈd and unnecessary. But given that I completely ignored them and now wish that I didnít, I may as well give it a go.
As I approached senior year, there is one statement I remember saying over and over: ìIíll give that a try when I have some more time.” This was applicable to all sorts of things: going out to more parties, taking on another job for the resumÈ, trying a new intramural sport and the like. In some cases, I was fascinated enough to make time. But in many cases, I was tempted, but overall decided to put it off until a later date that was never determined.
I only now realize just how many times I found myself capable of making time when I thought I had none earlier. Really, weíre always going to feel stressed and busy ó itís college. Rare is the occasion when weíre not busy with something. Looking back now, it seems like some of the best decisions I made here involved ignoring how little time I had and going for it anyway. So why didnít I do that more often? I sure should have.
Donít get me wrong, I love every minute of my college experience, and sometimes I still surprise myself with how much Iíve done since I first moved into the Annex freshman year. But no matter how much youíve already done, when youíre a senior you start to think about just how much extra time you really did† have, and how much you wasted.
I worked so many jobs sophomore year that I usually went back to my room too burned out to do anything, leading to an uneventful night checking Facebook for the millionth time, giving my homework a half-hearted attempt and going to bed early. It always felt like a good and necessary idea at the time, like I deserved a break. But all those Facebook minutes add up, and now they just seem silly.
Half of us are so worn out that we assume we canít do any more, the other half always joke about how there’s nothing to around here ó both of which are just flat out not true. Most of us are just too lazy to go looking for excitement. Thereís always a party or a job or a competition waiting for us if we really want there to be.
So for the seniors with one year left, and the underclassmen with plenty of time, thatís my advice: push the limit just a little more. Go spend a night at that UG place everyone talks about. Apply for those crazy internships. Weíve got our whole lives to read books, sit on Facebook and stay in for the night. But how many times will we be in college? How much longer will we have before we have to pay for this kind of fun?
Calvin once said this to Hobbes while riding his little red wagon: ìIn the short term, it would make me happy to go play outside. In the long term, it would make me happier to do well at school and become successful. But in the very long term, I know which will make better memories.”
I feel like, had I read that four years ago rather than four minutes ago while procrastinating homework, I may have pushed myself a little more here.