Savor the Moment by Waleed

Savor the Moment by Waleed - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

During my junior year of high school, I took an English course that I didn’t know would change my life. My teacher’s name was Dr. Kachermeyer, and he was one of my closest friends that year. He taught me many things outside the English course. However, one of the most important things he ever told me was “Waleed, you can’t rush through life trying to get everything done. You have to slow down sometimes, take a breather and look around. Live in the moment! Appreciate things for how they come but never lose sight of your goals.”
I have lived by these words ever since. I used to always rush by, wanting to finish my assignments early so I could tackle more, or rushing from one place to another without appreciating the journey. Now I know that I have to slow down and take the time to gather my surroundings and enjoy the distance. When you go on a long road trip, you aren’t supposed to speed to get to your destination. You take a road trip so that you can sight-see the journey. So that you can watch the wildflowers, so that you can notice the little nooks and crannies where memories were made. Every moment comes and goes in an instant. So take your time to appreciate that instant, because if you don’t take your time to appreciate every instant, you risk living your life with regrets.