Carpe Diem by Ava

Carpe Diem by Ava - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

“Carpe Diem”
“Pluck the day, as it is ripe.”
A challenging suggestion, but one essential in my quest toward a rewarding life.
Known as “carpe diem”, this phrase began its climb to an ultimate reign of modern pop culture in Horace’s Odes, 23 BCE. Here, people brimming with stubborn hope philosophized to their heart’s content. Thoughts were innovations, not regenerated copies.
Taking risks, dissenting in ideology, and creating controversy by disturbing mass conformity have lead to mankind’s greatest discoveries. Progress is impossible without renegades daring to object and present better alternatives. This is to declare oneself sane among hordes of asylum patients, to keep “your head when all those about you are losing theirs” as Kipling might say. Standing out is not to be associated with the trite, standard trek toward fame and fortune, but rather, with a leap into uncharted territory in order to stretch one’s limits of physical and mental exploration.
The search for a concrete meaning of life continues to be the most fascinating, painstakingly confusing inquiry available. Around 307 BCE, Epicurus formulated the concepts of ataraxia and aponia, two key ingredients for a pleasurable, perfectly rising life. He believed that an absence of fear, or mental distress, as well as of pain, or physical torment, would create the ideal life of pleasure. His materialism permitted modest enjoyment of tangible desires; he derived happiness from the five senses, relying heavily on hedonistic values to craft a successful existence.
To eliminate fear, stress, pain and seek unadulterated bliss in its place appears to be the goal. Moreover, our minds have been conditioned to eliminate the unbearable embarrassment of failure that accompanies effort and risk.
It is here that I refuse to consent to my own demise. The once-valuable, ingenuous “seize the day” mentality has been offensively soiled. In its place surfaced “YOLO”(you only live once), a disgusting misuse of the original design, disguised as slang to be rattled off quickly to justify careless, reprehensible actions. This offensive modern twist has become a way to evade any liability of responsibility.
I strive to favor Nietzsche, instead. His “amor fati” proposes that en route to greatness, regret and transformation are fundamental. With practice, I’ll stare regret square in the face, maintaining eye contact to insure sincerity. Then. The dreaded vehicle of regret will serve as an incentive toward real change.
My generation is young and arrogantly invincible. Yes, we make mistakes in our ignorance. But yes, we should embrace them in order to learn.
Ambitions should be pursued immediately, not delayed until we are too tired and disillusioned to pursue them under legendary “prime conditions” of adulthood. I intend to act now, take advantage of every opportunity, though not without thought.
Success is measured in effort and earnestness. Therefore, I dare myself to take risks, to adventure not seeking to brag about courage or wildness, but honestly to gain independence and explore the world with my own unbiased eyes.
To seize the day is to live a life I can be proud of and satisfied with upon reflection. This means experimenting with diversity, not wasting mindless amounts of time on perfecting and displaying a single talent for commendation. This does not dictate a lack of dedication, only increased loyalty to and interest in a vast array of study.
This means simultaneously basking in bliss of anticipation for future potential and listening to my parents caution, “It flies by you, enjoy every minute of the journey right now.” It means correcting those who assume I travel to escape unhappiness for a fabricated thrill, assuring them I hunger to explore because I’ve been encouraged by those who love me to go forward, be courageous, be different, be unafraid of the unknown, dare to try and let my mistakes develop my mind. I acknowledge the risk of death, injury, or failed trust, everything.
But, if we at least dare to try, we have already succeeded.