I wonder if life would be so special if we had endless amounts of… everything. If we could eat any food in the world, or if we could travel anywhere we desired. Would it fuel our happiness, or make us less appreciative of the present? To some, unlimited amounts of food, travel, and other resources may seem like an easy path to eternal joy. But I don’t believe that’s true. To me, scarcity is what gives our experiences their true value. The pleasure of looking forward to something–and anticipating the future–is what gives life meaning. It’s what pushes us forward. To keep going.

Now, where am I going with this? 

Well, it’s recently come to my attention that I have officially become the infamous, second-semester senior. We (seniors) are expected to start slacking off in class, abuse our “holidays,” and embrace the perks of senioritis. College decisions are out, graduation is approaching, and school may even feel stress-free. We’re almost there already, so why keep going? 

In fact, there are plenty of reasons to. For me at least, senior year has certainly been volatile, to say the least. Throughout these few months, life has guided me to its zenith, but also to rock bottom. I turned 18, soon lost a loved one, got into my dream college (Go Tigers!), and moved houses–all in just a few months. It’s been hectic, and honestly, a realistic entry into adulthood. In the midst of all this, the new year arrived. I celebrated New Year’s Eve at a close friend’s house, as my friends and I met to converse and have our final laughs of 2025. As the New Year countdown struck zero and we celebrated the dawn of the new year, I quietly reflected on the fact that 2026 was my graduation year. 

Graduation. It was a word that felt so distant, but all of a sudden, it is so close to us.  

There are only a few months left before I graduate now. Before it’s too late, I want to emphasize–to myself, and to all the second-semester seniors reading this now or in the future–to make those last few months count. Not by overworking ourselves, but by being more present. Utilize it as a time to grow: maybe learn a skill you’ve always said you’d get to “one day.” Reflect on what’s come and gone: revisit that freshman year playlist, have those “late night talks” with your friends. Plan the trip you and your friends have always wanted to go to, but never did. Now is the time.

Because right now, these memories of high school are becoming scarce. And if scarcity is what gives life its meaning, then these final months–limited, and potentially irreplaceable–may be some of the most meaningful times we’ll ever get to experience.

Sooner or later, waking up to get to school by 8:10 AM every day will feel less stressful and more nostalgic. The tests that once overwhelmed us will fade, the classrooms once filled with laughter will soon grow silent, and that one teacher (we all have one in mind) who lightened up the day will blur with time. What remains in our memories will be what we choose to notice and remember. What we decide to embrace, instead of rushing through. 

In this moment, time is fleeting–and that’s exactly what makes it special. So, as John Keating famously says in Dead Poets Society (1989),

“Carpe diem, seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”