Cheryl+H’s+Final+AmEx+Speech+2017

“While I thought that I was learning how to live, I had been learning how to die” -Leonardo Da Vinci. Sorry to start this off on such a morbid and philosophical note, quite early in the morning, but this statement is incredibly true. Something has been on my mind these past few months. This “something” has been creeping into my brain, eating away every one of my thoughts, and slowly suffocating me until I’m on my last breath. Now I know this seems highly dramatic, but just hear me out, okay?

So, has anyone here been worried and/or stressed at least once throughout your junior year? Alright, I expected that. Now, raise your hand if that stress and worry could have been prevented or at least lessened. Okay, well, that “something” that I mentioned earlier is worry and it can be quite a bitch sometimes. And as seen in the response to my questions, you guys, can obviously understand what I’m talking about.

Back in 2013, the Huffington Post did what is known the “Legacy Project.” This project focused on roughly 1,200 elders throughout the United States and simply asked them to reflect upon their lives and to give any advice they thought the new generation would benefit off of. The overwhelming response that most gave was along the lines of worry. “I wish I hadn’t spent so much of my life worrying” or “I poisoned my life by worrying obsessively.” Phrases like these should raise alarm to our generation. Odds are we probably don’t want to end up lying on our deathbeds thinking the same thing, so why don’t make a change?

Now I understand at times, in certain situations, worry is necessary in regards to our survival instinct. It’s not like, you, listening to this speech right now can just let go of all your fears and worries and carry on with your life. It’s not that simple. But what you can do right now is ask yourself this: For example, do you have an issue in your life? YES. Can you do something about it? YES. Then, why worry? There’s some situations that individuals can take a hold of. As opposed to sitting there worrying about failing the physio final, why don’t you use that time to study for it?

The same thing goes for our dreams. Look around you. Look around this classroom; it’s full of potential. And the sad thing? Not all of it will be used. Do you know what the wealthiest place on Earth is? It’s the cemeteries. It’s the place where hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled go to die. We’ve only been on this Earth for so long and it pains me to see that some just lay back and drift through their life, not reaching their true fulfillment.

Let me ask you this: When your life flashes before your eyes and you are on that one last ounce of life, what do you see? Do you see a life full of exciting, thrilling, breathtaking moments that make you genuinely happy? Or do you see a life of you sitting on your couch scrolling through your phone, days on end? I mean it’s up to you to choose how you live your life. I’m not one to judge, but if you aren’t doing what you truly love, why aren’t you doing it? It would shame for your talents to go to waste!

In addition, you should prioritize your happiness over your worrying. When was the last time you did something for yourself? According to the Washington Post, the average American works 46 hours a week which is 2,392 hours a year, for goodness sake! Taking the day off work every once and while isn’t that much of a hindrance. Sometimes we all need a little vacation. We need some time to go off the grid and escape the toxicity of the world. However, what we don’t need is to waste time being unhappy. Therefore, go listen to your favorite album, have lunch with your best friend, take a roadtrip, whatever it is--- do what makes you the happiest. If you don’t like something, change it!

The change doesn’t have to be drastic; start out with small steps: Say yes to opportunities more, tell your friends and family you appreciate them, take a step outside of your comfort zone! Life is so unexpected and you never know what can happen next. Accept the past and move on. There isn’t a rewind button for a reason. Stop worrying about high school because when you look back, you will realize it’s a mere four years out of your one hundred year experience. But in all seriousness, be fully present and live your life to the fullest because YOLO (*cringe*).

In the grand scheme of things, I understand that it’s not that easy. Life can be pretty shitty at times, but that’s the yin in the yang, right? Everyone dies, but not everyone lives. It’s not usually regrets we have of what we did, but regrets we have of what we didn’t do. One shouldn’t fear the mere concept of materialism and money to that large of an extent. Life isn’t about who makes the most money. It’s about what you get out of that life that makes the difference.

And from being with you guys all year long, I can tell it’s not going to be a problem for any of you. So, I, Cheryl, or Cherly as Geib spells it, wish to see in the America I grow old in, a generation of no worries. A generation of happiness. A generation of positive people with a passion to make a difference. With that being said, don’t be afraid of pursuing your dreams, even if they are a bit bigger than you intended to because time is precious, so waste it wisely.