Humans have been writing since prehistoric times, whether it was through intricate pictographs or sophisticated languages. It is apparent that humans have always had an urge to share a story. Writing has been a fundamental part of the human race. Writing could connect two people without distance and time being an obstacle. As part of my new year’s resolution, I decided to dedicate more time to writing and leaving behind small “mementos” of what I was thinking and doing at any given moment.

Over this past break, I was able to get out of the routine of schoolwork and finally had some time to dedicate to things that make me happy. Yes, I binged out on "Game of Thrones," but I also found time to read and write. I decided to take some time to go read at my local bookstore and I stumbled upon the poetry section.

My eyes made their way across the various titles. After grabbing an eye-catching book, I found a great poem that provoked me to rethink about why I write. The poem, titled Moments, shared a bittersweet view of memories and I thought it would be worthwhile to share it on here:

Moments

That’s the tragedy of growing up - knowing you’ll run out of feeling something new for the first time. The sad thing is; you only get so much of those moments - a handful if you’re lucky - and then you spend the rest of your life turning them over in your head.

I think that’s why you meant as much to me as you did, why I held on for so long. I didn’t know it back then, but you were the last time I would ever feel anything new.

-Lang Leav

While the poem may be considered a sad love poem, it offers great insight into life and these certain moments the come about through it. Much like the subject in the poem we experience things on a day to day basis, some of these things may excite us while others may scare us. The subject fears for the brief and unexpected nature of these so-called moments and possible laments the thought of them passing.

After they pass they become memories, however, there must be a way to keep these moments alive, right? Our minds are filled with emotions and while it may only happen once, wouldn’t it be ideal to keep these pretty thoughts bundled up in an intimate piece of writing? If this were possible, then maybe the poem’s subject wouldn’t be so sad.

As we grow up and discover more about what we want to do in life and our goals, it is good to keep track of them through writing. While the road may not be smooth, it is still important to embrace all moments. Writing as therapy has helped me bring out what I am thinking or feeling and once it is out, if its bad you could move on and if it’s good, embrace it.

I came upon small note to myself and lengthy entries in a notepad and as soon as I started reading it, the emotion and memory of the moment hit me, they came from my Freshman year of college.

I found that as a freshman I was pretty lost in college, I didn’t know who to talk to and questioned if I could really stack up against the students here. I started off my journey in Santa Clara as a Chemistry Major. In my mind, I thought, “sure, I enjoyed chemistry in high school and pursuing a degree in Chemistry would be a good option!” Little did I know that the path I chose was not the one I should have been on.

I found myself hating it and realized that it was not for me. A really discouraging midterm was the turning point in which I decided I needed to change my path and quick too. The following weeks of fall quarter were tough, petty arguments and piles of school work made the situation a bit overwhelming.

As 2016 came into a close and 2017 dawned, I found my days plagued with the same feelings of alienation. It seemed as if all my peers were finding their niches and I was getting left behind. I wondered if it was going to be the same mundane routine every other day. I feared it, I didn’t want to be in that situation.

If anything, in hindsight, I realized that things were gonna get better as time progressed and probably I wasn’t the only one feeling that way. I looked upon this writing as a way to assess how I am doing and to see if I made the right changes in my life. I made sure that I studied a bit harder with each passing test.

I focused on building good relationships with friends and peers, but most importantly I learned to make sure to take care of myself. To this date, My sophomore year has been smooth, I’ve met some great people, and most importantly I let go of those negative feeling back in the pages of an abandoned book! It’s good to revisit these feelings and make a note about how strong you are and how you overcame them to become the person you are today.

Now I know what you may be thinking, the beginning of this piece focuses on good moments, right? Well, honestly these moments are not all ugly, they show how one could grow in a span of one year. It is great to see growth and maturity in where I am today and hope for a more centric view going into the future.

Therefore I would encourage everyone to partake in a daily writing exercise. It doesn't have to be a lengthy paragraph, any thoughts, short or long will do! Keep a note of where you are at today and then be ready for the progress and beauty of the future!