This past semester was the first time I stepped into Naperville North after a year and a half. The world has continued to change and evolve over the past semester just as it did during 2020. And just as the world has changed, I have too. After this semester I truly connect and understand what Master Oogway said in Kung Fu Panda, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift… that’s why they call it present.”

There is no point in living in the past because you can’t change anything that has already happened. The same is true about the future. The future is unpredictable and anything can happen. For example, no one could have predicted anything that has happened in the past year and a half. Living in the moment is the best way to live because it is what our lives revolve around. We experience things as they happen and that is the beauty of life. We can’t relive a moment and every second only happens once. This makes every instance in time a unique event experienced from a unique perspective that is you. Living in the moment made me appreciate life more than before and has led to me being happier in general. I have stopped having anxiety about the past and future. This is not to say there is no benefit in learning from the past, but you should take those experiences and use them in the present. Don’t let mistakes haunt you and keep you up at night, let them make you a better person right now. Some examples of this from my own life this semester were when I was playing soccer. Practice took up a lot of my time just as every sport or activity does, and this in tandem with taking a rigorous course load meant there were days that I had hours of homework on top of practice. If I wanted to succeed in soccer, I would have to focus on just soccer for that hour and a half of practice. I couldn’t worry about the homework I had to do when I got home. I had to live in the moment and focus on the present. This ultimately made me a better player and appreciate my last season of high school soccer more.

In addition, focusing on the present has made me more confident in my decisions. Knowing that I have minimal control over the future and being able to accept the past I have developed a “Just Do It” mindset.

I’ve ended up doing things I never thought I would this year. I went to every home football game I could, which I’ve never done before. I went to my first homecoming because I didn’t sit around pondering whether or not I should go. I decided that it would be fun and just went. Of course, there was a fear of the unknown, but I was able to get out of my comfort zone. There’s a youtube channel that I have started consistently watching over the last few months called Yes Theory, and their slogan is “Seek Discomfort.” They look to make take themselves and others out of their comfort zone and explore the unknown. Their adventures range from going on spontaneous trips around the world to skydiving. I’ve come to wholeheartedly agree with their message. There is no joy in comfort and the best life experiences are those where you just say yes. This semester I have tried to seek discomfort by doing things I would normally not and getting myself out there. The world is a beautiful place full of new experiences and excitement. What is there to lose doing new things and living in the moment? Nothing.

The theme of this semester for me was to live in the moment. To live without regret of the past or fear of the future. I put myself out there and sought discomfort. I can confidently say that this has led me to be the happiest I have ever been. Life only happens once as far as we know so why not live it to the fullest. I’ll leave you with the words I have been trying to live by: “today is a gift”, “just do it” and “seek discomfort.”