For the past couple of years, some of the most important things in my life have all revolved around the future. Whether it’s a test worth half my grade or one homework assignment worth five points, high school and college students are made to feel that every little thing we do is of equal value regardless of their actual value. The goal is to work your ass off by taking hard classes, being in clubs of no relevance to your life for the soul purpose of getting into a good college, which then we are told will land us a good job and have a perfect family… but for what? Who are we trying to prove ourselves to? When the stress of the future and grades becomes overwhelming, I begin to question, “Is this really all worth it?”

Frankly I don’t always think so. There is more to life than preparing for the next exam or only ever worrying about your GPA. When did putting aside homework to spend time doing something you love begin to be looked down upon? Regardless of the ridiculously absurd expectations put on students of all ages today, I still stand beside my opinion of what is truly “worth it”. Going for a walk. Reading a good book. Climbing a tree. Whatever makes your heart feel free and your mind calm is ultimately worth it. For me, reading and writing is the ultimate stress reliever. In the long run, if I have the urge to curl up on the couch with a book I have been craving to read for months, the occasional looks of disappointment from my teachers due to me not having my homework done are worth it if I get to spend time doing what I’m passionate about. You will never remember the score you got on that one test you spent six hours studying for, but you will remember not going out and finding what makes your heart sing.