I have a bad habit of wishing away the present in favor of the future. I've always been that way. I couldn't wait to start high school, then I couldn't wait to graduate and move on to college. Now, I find myself anticipating graduation and all the changes it will likely bring—a new job, a new city, a new phase of my life.

As soon as I begin to feel stagnant like I've gotten into a routine and am just going through the motions, I immediately want to move on to the next challenge. I think part of it is once I feel that I've risen to the occasion and gotten through the toughest parts of whatever I'm doing, I begin to look for the next challenging experience.

I've always hated the feeling of standing still, of not achieving more and more. When you have that mentality, it's very easy to feel like you're not getting anywhere when you're not actively mastering a new skill or accomplishing a goal.

However, when this feeling begins to creep up, I've found that the best way to combat it is to think about how far I've come. As I prepare to pursue my Master's degree next year, I've been upset that it's going to be two more years before I get to use my college degree. What I've begun to realize, though, is how lucky I am to have the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree in a field that I'm passionate about at all.

As a freshman in college, I didn't have a clue about what I wanted to do with my life. Now, as a senior, I've been able to find a major that I both enjoy and am successful in. I've had the opportunity to intern for a literary magazine that I've always admired, and as I finish my educational career, I will continue to have the chance to learn from professors that I admire.

So, sure, while it's so easy to look forward to the future, I have to keep reminding myself to stop and enjoy the now. I have so many great things going on in my life right now that it is absurd to wish this time period away.