Never take one moment of your life for granted. There are too many times people look back and say, “What if.” This is something I never want to say. I want to never look back and have regrets, and I strive to achieve this every day.

In high school, every year our entire class shuffled into the auditorium for a speech we probably could say word for word by now, but every year I’m impacted by this speech a little differently, despite its redundancy. I took something from the speech. The speaker asks us if we are giving our full potential in every paper we write, every test we take, every sport we play, every friend we make. I am left to reflect, to ask myself if I am truly giving my full potential in these subjects. We will never take that test in history again, we will never write that paper in English again, we will never be given the chance to play that sectional final game again, we will never be able to give a good impression on the person that is sitting next to us in English class. We must live in the now. That speech made me conscious of my unconscious living.

Acknowledging my unconscious living is how I begin to live in the moment. Being fully aware of my surroundings and fully aware of the task inspires me to give my full potential; to live in the now. Instead of drowning in the past and dreaming for the future, we must choose the present. We can only control the present. Learning this, I found myself happier — feeling blessed to be given that moment. I’ve learned to never let life pass me by, I want to give my full potential in this life. I want to work to my full ability and never have regrets.

Recognizing the present helps make better decisions, decisions that we will not regret, decisions that we know will make a difference. Living in the now, instead of in the past or future, allows us a chance for reflection — to see if we are living to our full capacities. This time allows us to grow as a people, to recognize our faults and correct them. Rather than feeling sorry and dwelling on the past, I’ve learned that putting forth more effort to better myself not only helps solve problems, but it helps to become a better person.

That speech has taught me to take advantage of every opportunity that I am given. I never want to say “what if.” I want to know that I have given my full potential in every aspect of my life. We are never guaranteed tomorrow, we cannot change the past —we must live in the now.