Joy in the Season by Courtney

Joy in the Season by Courtney - March 2017 Scholarship Essay

As I find myself receiving letters of college acceptance, researching ideas for dorm rooms, exploring the campus of my potential new home, I have given myself very little time to realize how quickly I have arrived at this point. As I envision a younger, more timid version of myself, walking onto my high school campus four years ago, it is hard for me to fathom how quickly time has passed. I have gained more friends than I could've ever imagined, and lost more than I would’ve liked, but I can confidently say that these past four years have been the best yet. If I was granted the opportunity, to speak in front of the entire student body at my school, I can think of one thing that I would attempt to make known - the season’s of life are far too short to take seriously.
Every happy memory I have from the past four years have been a result of living life to the fullest. Little fear of what others think, but pure intentions of fun, enjoyment and all around perseverance. More often than not, the harder times I faced, have been a result of fear. Fear of others - fear of failure - and fear of not being good enough. Life is a serious thing, but not everything in it has to be. My advice to people of any age, gender, nationality, or religion is to enjoy any and every moment.
As I approach graduation, college and adulthood, my past experiences continue to remind me to always be myself. I now strive to find the best in every person, circumstance, or situation, because life truly is about the experience. It is inevitable that the future holds hard times, but with that come more opportunities for triumph. If we as a people change our outlook on how we perceive the good and the bad times, it is likely that our future will only be brighter.