They say when you are falling to your death, your whole life flashes before your eyes. Whether this is true or not, I have no clue. But just like that, my entire life flashed by, and now I'm 16 years old.
While I am happy to have gone another year around a flaming ball, I am also scared for what the future holds. I always dream of the days where I could just roam around and not have a care for what was in store for me. Now I start to think about responsibility and when to get my drivers license. I always thought getting older would bring more fun and an ability to manage my work and personal life, and instead, I stay up working till 12 and waking up at 5.
Take a step back and realize what you're going through in your life right now. Experience your childhood, and don't just keep thinking about when you can sleep later. Enjoy your friends in your life right now, and don't keep worrying about the future. A lot of my college friends have told me to stay young as growing up just means more and more stress. Also, as you grow up, you face more stress and competition.
For me, I have found solace in my instrument. From 6th to 9th grade, I despised my trombone more than anything. However, after going through a humbling experience this year, I realized that I have a chance to be a more well-rounded person, and my trombone always acts as my stress reliever. As you grow up, you realize the effect of hard work and how you can always improve yourself.
So remember: take a step back, breathe, and enjoy life to its fullest.