Everyday I wake up and I know what needs to be accomplished for the day. Sometimes it feels like I live by a “to-do list." When I think about the bigger picture and all of the things I dream of for my life, every day seems more like a stepping-stone. When I am old and I begin to look back on my life, I want to be satisfied. I want to be proud of myself and believe I lived my life to its fullest extent. I want to know that when I die, I have made a positive impact on the lives around me and in my career.

I don’t want to be known as someone who didn’t speak up for what they believed in. I will be known for doing what’s right; I won’t be standing on the sidelines hoping someone else will do use their voice. While I still have the chance, my opinion will be known. I will do the right thing when it feels appropriate. I refuse to be remembered as someone who saw something bad happening and did nothing to bring attention to it.

I will share my stories, because I know that hearing others' is inspiring. My words will be heard, and I will have been proud to speak them. My life will have a meaning. Everything I have done will have been for a reason.

I won’t waste my time judging others for what they’ve been through or how they spend their time, because I hope the people around me would do the same. I have more important things to do then waste time making someone else miserable. Instead, I hope I’m remembered for making an impact.

I will have made mistakes. Plenty of them. I hope that I will have used them to better myself and learn from them to achieve my goals. I won’t be someone who dreamed big but didn’t try to achieve it. Maybe I’ll succeed at some of my goals, and fail at others. At least I will have lived hard enough to find my passions.

People are going to remember me, because I want to make a difference in their lives. Whether it is holding a door, giving a homeless person my spare change or helping a customer and making their life easier in that moment, giving back will be a part of my life. When someone hears my name, I hope they smile. I hope they have positive memories of the times we had and cherish them.

When I die, I will have loved unconditionally to those most important in my life. I don’t want there to be anyone who doesn’t know how much they mean to me and the impact they’ve had on my life. I will have said too much in situations, or said things I shouldn’t have. I will regret not saying things I should have said. I believe nothing worth knowing should be left unspoken. I might tell you “I love you” way too many times, but you’ll always know that I meant it.

Thinking that someday I will be looking back on all of the time that I now have yet to live is terrifying. What if I don’t do all of these things? What if I miss out, or mess up? Everyday is a step. We continue to learn and make mistakes. I refuse to not try every day to better myself as a person and pursue my dreams. I know that I’ve been given too many second chances in life for a reason, and I will use them for good so that one day I can be happy and satisfied with my life.