“Live in the moment.” “Take it day by day.” “There’s no time like the present.” We are all familiar with these sayings, but when we consider our finite time here at Georgetown, these clichés tend to trigger an onset of heart palpitations, shortness of breath, cold sweats and trembling; in other words, sheer panic. How can we live in the moment when we select housing and roommates almost a year ahead of time? How can we take it day by day when study abroad commitments are due seven months in advance? How is there “no time like the present,” when we are constantly planning for the future?
I will admit that my track record does not exactly invoke the principle of living life on the edge. Let’s just say that I have only recently begun to enjoy rollercoasters, I still refuse to drive on highways, and I consider watching The Bachelor finale the quickest way to an adrenaline rush. Clearly, I am not the most credible candidate to promote the “carpe diem” way of life. But we are all different. Some of us have been going on rollercoasters since the day we were tall enough to meet the height requirement (or at least tall enough on our tippy-toes), some of us love the thrill of drag racing on a highway, and some of us go skydiving to get that adrenaline rush.
But we are all guilty of taking for granted the gift to live each day to its fullest. Whether we are naturally cautious or risk-takers at heart, I don’t think any of us can say with conviction that we view each day as a new opportunity to be the best version of ourselves. In order to do this, we must “live in the moment” and take those small risks that just might shape our future. Talk to that cute boy in Spanish class, reach out to that friend you wish you knew better, or attend that professor’s office hours to engage in a few moments of stimulating conversation. Hopefully, you have seized some special Hoya moments this year and stormed the court after our Syracuse victory, ran to the White House on election night, and maybe even skipped a few classes to hear Hillary Clinton or Leon Panetta speak. Georgetown provides us with these many experiences, and it is our duty to seize the moment and fully embrace our time here as Hoyas.
I challenge us all to view each day as a new opportunity to really live, to break down the barriers that confine us, to feel fear but take risks anyway, and to love deeply and laugh often. We have to plan for our futures, but we must live and embrace the present. After all, you only live once: YOLO.