Carpe Diem-Seize the Day

When we are kids we have the whole world in our hands. We have memories to make, time to spend, things to do. Unlike now when we are trying to juggle college applications, we’re stressed out of our minds, and our most used app is membean. But I don’t think any of that will ever be as hard as having to go through a pandemic that took all of our middle school experience.

I remember getting told that it was only going to be two weeks, that turned into over a year. I always wondered why everything happened the way it did. Why did we have to have our middle school years ruined by a virus? Our education damaged because we had to go through school online and learned nothing. But then I remember that I am happy we are not the class of 2020. I couldn’t imagine having to wear a mask with my cap and gown, or not being able to walk the stage with the people I’ve grown up with all my life. Despite our differences, I care about every single one of you. Although I was never really included or apart of our class, and in Isaac Galvez’s words I, “disappeared”. That doesn’t change how proud I am of us, of you, because we made it. Against all the odds and everything that tried to get in the way, we persevered and now we will be walking across this stage for a piece of paper we only used to see in movies.

We are going to be starting our lives, going off and becoming whoever we are supposed to be. Making our lives our own and becoming our own people. And like John Keating from Dead Poets Society once said, “Carpe Diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary” End quote. Carpe Diem–to seize the day. Making our lives our own. As we are walking into this next chapter of our lives we should try to remember to make the best of every day. There may be struggles and times where life seems never ending, but if you try and make your everyday goal to seize the day? You will always have something to look forward to.

So keep the friends you have now very close, enjoy your least favorite teacher’s class before you leave, make the memories that will last a lifetime. Even the painful ones. Remember those all nighters you pulled going out with friends(or if a teacher asks, studying for a test).

The last twelve years have been a rollercoaster; now it’s time to get off and start this new journey ahead of us. Look to the people beside you, behind you, and in front of you. This is the last time all of us will be in the same room together, as a class.

Before we leave I want to share one more quote from Dead Poets Society said by John Keating, “Now in this class you can either call me Mr. Keating, or if you’re slightly more daring, O’ Captain, my Captain” End Quote. Mr. Keating is saying how you could take the safe way and call him Mr. Keating; but if you want to take the risky route you could call him O’ Captain my Captain. I have spent a lot of time being scared of everything and playing it safe. Now that we are about to become young adults I think it’s time I step out of my comfort zone and seize the day, to make my life extraordinary. And I hope it inspires you to seize the day too. So in Mr. Keating’s words, O’ Captain, my Captain.

“The Graduates” by Game of EPL5 & LUMIX G20/F1.7 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

“fist in the air” by Ibai Lemon is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.