A common thing seen in high schools and colleges is a desire to grow up. High school students desperately picking up extracurricular after extracurricular, looking at colleges, even declaring majors! College students worrying about graduate/medical programs, career options, prerequisites, and employment. In my high school, everyone volunteered, studied hard for A's, played sports, and spent a lot of time researching colleges.
At Hunter, a lot of my friends are pre-meds (as I once was), overloading on science credits, trying to do internships, and stressing over medical school. High school and college years are supposed to be some of our best years, but how will this be if we are always working for the future?
As humans, we have a common tendency to look at and worry about the future, whether it is tomorrow, next Friday, or 10 years from now. The future and the idea of it are fascinating. The future is unknown, and we have the power to influence future events. The unknown can be scary and intriguing, especially to the human mind.
However, the future can be influenced by the present. But if we live for the future, what about the present? Living for the future and not the present can lead to regret. The party you were invited to that you turned down to study? Your crush went and was looking for you.
That job opportunity at the startup that you turned down due to risk? It is now a big company and you could've made double the amount of money. The group of creatives in your class that you didn't talk to because you were anxious? They're planning a film and need someone to help.
Living for the future can hurt your chances of living life today. Life can be stressful and even downright miserable at times, why turn down opportunities to enjoy it? Why cheat yourself? At the end of the day, we are all mortal, and should enjoy every moment we can.
