As I start to reach the end of my senior year, there is a lot I reflect on. I do this so often anymore. I have been looking at people around me and remembering what they were like when we were young, and comparing it to how they are now. Growing up in a small school my whole life has allowed me to know most of the kids in my class since kindergarten. I wonder of time travel. Not so that I can go back and repeat the past as many people would guess, but to inform. I wonder what it would be like when I was little, to look at people and to know what they would be like by my senior year. Some people would be proud and/or amazed. However, I feel that it for the majority it would be the opposite.

It is rather depressing. Looking back at so many of my peers and looking at them now, I feel talent has been lost. Looking back on my memories of people, I realized how much potential was in each and every person. It appears now however that many have abandoned it. I look at people that where amazing at math, but now they are taking the bare minimum to graduate. I look at people who were even at a young age, great at sports and appeared to have a big future with it. Now, many of them in High School have quit for reasons a dumb as the time commitment made it hard to party on Friday and Saturday nights. I have seen academic geniuses focus all their worries to how they will obtain and sneak their pot. Again, a waste.

I’m not saying that these people are a waste. Nobody is truly a waste. I am also not being completely ignorant to their situation. I am very well aware that there could be many other factors that has influenced this. People have many problems that can come in a second and change things forever. It just seems that more people have changed for the worse. I also realize that again, my peers and I are only at the end of High school, and there is still much more time to change. But still, what if the slope continues?

In the newspaper last week, Dr. Kirby wrote editorial talking about the graduating senior class. He wondered what the class would regret about their high school days when they are older. I guess he shares a similar fear I do. I know for me, I would say I already regret that when I was younger I never learned how to study, or had the drive to get As rather than settle for Bs. Do I wish I could go back and change it? No. This has made me who I am. I guess many others feel the same way when they look at their regrets.

Dr. Kirby’s concern was that people will have regrets .However, my concern is that the talent people are given will go to waste. There is so much ability in so many people but I feel that many people take it for granted. Today’s teenage society seems to have a new “Carpe Diem” attitude. Many want to live life to the fullest by having the most fun as they can. My Carpe Diem idea is that one should live life to the fullest in order to truly “seize the day”. If one has a talent, they should try to maximize it. See how far it can take them. I understand that life is not forever and that life should be enjoyed. However, if all I do is try to have fun, and let everything else slip away, my name will die with my body. If one works hard however, not only can that person still enjoy life by obtaining random glimpses of progression and success, but they might make a lasting impression on the world that will last longer than they physically will. As rapper Jay-Z sings, “Fear not die, I’ll be alive for a million years, bye-bye. So now for legends I’m forever young, my name shall survive “. People can only last about 100 years if lucky. However, with determination and effort names can last far longer.

So that is what I fear. Growing up, I saw so many people with potential to become that name. As I near graduation, I fear that many people have given up on this potential. Not everyone can make a name for their self. But still, I find it sad to see names and dreams being disconnected already.

So, drastic change has occurred since my last post. First, I would no longer suggest being called 1790, but rather 1840 due to an increase in SAT scores. Secondly and more importantly, the scores mean nothing anymore, since I have been accepted and will be attending Lafayette College.

There has been so much I could have written about these last few weeks. I have thought about writing often, but sadly it is still not a common practice for me. I think I may write a bit over break.

So yes, I am going to Lafayette. Yes, today is Christmas Eve. Now that my college is picked, and we are just counting down the days, I am able to focus even more on making this year count for something. Knowing that it is only a few short months until I will be detached from the world around me and forever changed, I am trying to make the best of it.

There is greatness in simplicity. It is not the material objects that can help bring us together, but rather a longing to be together. For example, even though I spent some quality time with Kevin and the neighbor girls last night playing the Nintendo Wii and having fun, an object that expensive is not needed to do the trick. This morning while in the basement Kyle and I started playing with good ol’ Link-N-Logs. We had lots of fun for a short time before Kyle realized he was not as good at building as he thought.  Remember that on Christmas morning.

All I can say is enjoy the simple moments. Use this holiday to enjoy the company of those you love. It is what the season is about, no matter what religion.  Let others give you some warmth and light in the coldest, darkest time of the year. Grasp the moment, because you will only have it once.