Stop and Smell the Roses. by Hannah

Stop and Smell the Roses. by Hannah - March 2017 Scholarship Essay

I have always been just like you all. Just a kid who wants to grow up way too fast and get on with life. I never wanted to enjoy my youth, and now I am almost out of time to do so. Soon life will catch up and I will not have the opportunity to make up for what I missed. I want to tell all of you to slow down and let yourself enjoy what you have left of your childhood. Do not let society or your friends tell you how to live your life or what you enjoy, because I promise you they hide what they like from you also. If you like something, do that and be happy.
There is a saying that I always thought was a joke, but now I understand what it really means. “Stop and smell the roses.” I recently realized this means allow yourself to enjoy the small things while you can. Everyone knows their parents or other adults say that they wish they could go back and just relive a certain time. Then you get told you will think the same way eventually, then you rolled your eyes and walked away. Well guess what, that is the truth. You do not realize this now, but you will.
If you come away from this and only learn one thing, I want it to be that your youth is precious. Also, that you should enjoy is. I hope that hearing this from one of your peers who is about to be thrown head first into this scary world helps it sink into your mind more. When you feel life life is flying by you, just remember, stop and smell the roses.