The End of an Era

Have you ever been on a vacation and, just as you begin to settle in, realize that it's almost over? For me, I compare this feeling to the thought of graduating in less than two weeks. It's like I finally learned how to swim - only for the pool to close. Forever. 

As I look back on the past four years, ironically, I find myself missing the very things I used to dread: the quixotic quizzes that quashed my brain, the sadistic SAT that slayed my soul, and the absurd AP's that abused my anxiety.  Saying this might get me testified in the court of student society, but hear me out - there's a strange nostalgic feeling of looking back at my suffering and realizing they were part of a larger journey. 

It might be only me, but I've always felt my pursuits were stopped short in not just school, but my life in general. This isn't the first time I've had nostalgic feelings come up right out of the blue. A younger version of me around the COVID Era mourned the Mario Kart tournaments I had with my friends, or the sleepovers and movie nights I had. However, I've come to realize from my golden past that the present rarely gets the credit it deserves.

I almost forget that the "good old days" eventually become what we experience in the present. There's a good chance that I'll be in college one day wishing that I was back in high school - whether it's the more tranquil moments such as studying in a smaller classroom or the chaotic ones like eating in the cafeteria every day. And then, as an adult, I'll probably miss college too. The cycle just never stops.

So I guess the takeaway is stay open to the opportunities that might be right in front of you, even if they seem uninteresting or a waste of time. Embrace the process. Even Siddhartha had to let go of his home, his riches, and even his own son to find peace and fulfillment. All we can do is keep moving forward in the direction that we set for ourselves.