Four years ago, I was chosen to speak at my high school's graduation as a commencement speaker. Fast-forward four years, and here I am speaking at yet another commencement, only this time I am speaking in front of more people, more distinguished guests and have more of a fear of a painful death due to public speaking. However, I will try my best to keep myself sane.

Here we are again at another chapter of our lives coming to a close. The real world begins as soon as we get that book with no diploma in it. However, there is a question a lot of us are asking ourselves in the back of our minds. Did we do everything we said we were going to do? The end of our college years has finally come, and did we ever complete the goals that our recently graduated high school-selves set?

I can answer for a lot of us and say that is definitely not the case. We didn't complete everything we wanted. Some of us didn't get that dream job, some of us didn't finish with the major they started, and some of us didn't find the love of our lives. To be honest, it's perfectly okay not to do such things.

I read something interesting online, and it pondered a question. It said, "If you could see into a crystal ball into your future life, and know that you end up not finding the love of your life, would you live your life differently? Would you go for opportunities that you never usually go for? Would you take a risk you would never usually take? Would you live a life without any regrets, only because you know that you end up dying alone?"

That article got my attention. It showed me that the love and the passion for something or someone can hold a person back or drive their potential through the roof. Living a life of doubt can be someone's ultimate downfall. I have noticed people, including myself, try to strive to make themselves a person that is desirable, a person that everyone loves to be around, the ultimate role model, the go-to person to talk to. Why do we concentrate on trying to be the the most desirable person in the world? Why don't we concentrate on trying to be the best person we can see ourselves being? Life is short, and to spend a lifetime impressing others and not yourself, seems like a waste.

Am I trying to project the message that all dreams do come true? No, that's not realistic. Not every dream comes true, it's the unfortunate truth. However, you only have one life to live, so what do you have to lose? The fear of dying alone, the fear of not being successful, the fear of being inadequate can certainly hold a person back. However, there are some risks in life that people should go for.

So, if you're still confused about what I am trying to say to you, I am hopeful you understand this underlying fact. Once you leave this venue today, you are officially in the real world. A lifetime in the real world is much shorter than you think. Live everyday to the fullest, because no one is guaranteed a tomorrow. Never be concerned about not finding love, not being successful or being inadequate hold you back from being the best possible person you can be. Because if you had only one more day to live, what would you do with it?

My simulated graduation speech was inspired by this video: The Time You Have.