Some nights, my roommates and I gather around the common room and bond over long discussions and late night snacks. They usually consist of conversations on our feelings and opinions. One night, one of my roommates asked, “Do you think you are making better choices now that you are in college?”

First semester, freshman year may seem too early for “change”, but it has definitely helped me create better habits, like attempting to wake up early and cutting down on Netflix, but there is one thing in particular that used to take a big toll in my life, which is focusing on the present. After graduating from high school, I was so overjoyed to start a new chapter in my life - a clean slate.

I believed all my problems would be a thing of the past, and college would be filled with great adventures. As exciting as it is, what I realized is not everything goes as I want it to. Something will always come up, and I have to accept it with grace and poise. I need to live in the moment; I can’t dwell on the past and anticipate the future.

I tended to replay all the past mistakes I made. At times, I felt strangled by the thoughts and questions I asked myself. Most of them started with, “Ugh, Divya, what were you even thinking?” but worrying about it is not going to change what happened. Instead of repeating embarrassing moments in my mind, I told myself to use the past only to correct my mistakes. Similarly, pondering about the future is exhausting and frankly, doesn’t get me anywhere. I only want to think of the future to set long-term goals, and influence the steps I will take now to accomplish my goals. I can’t control the past and future, but I can control what I do now.

I don’t know why, but college is making my values and beliefs more clear than before. Every single moment in my life is so important in shaping who I am. If something is bothering me, I let it out immediately, because if I keep it bottled up, then I can’t concentrate on what is happening in the moment. For me, perfection is everything. Yet, sometimes, imperfections in a scenario are more beautiful. I’ve learned to go with the flow and adjust and take every problem optimistically. Life cannot be wasted on worrying and stressing out about the past and the future because every minute is valuable and should be enjoyed.