WizKid’s summer anthem drifted lazily through my car window, fading into that famed Syracuse wind. “I feel it coming…time is of the essence.”

Deep within me, I felt the shift toward adulthood commencing, the chrysalis beginning to unfold. The only thing scarier than change is stagnation, and this was a transformation long foretold.

As the months progressed, the word “graduation” built into a tangible reality filled with lease signings, job offers and travel plans. As a recipient of the Archbold Day Scholarship, accredited to “students who show exceptional leadership potential and the promise of changing the world for the better,” every thought I had included the insurmountable pressure to make an immediate impact.

My family invested far too much into my future, and delivering without fail was the only expectation. It was never about me, but always about those who gave me a chance to be here. I had to do everything to earn their pride. Wasting time and resources was unthinkable.

But is time ever truly wasted? I cherished the small moments most. Discovering the beauty in the mundane granted me significantly more happiness than milestones ever could. There are only so many grand occasions in one’s life, and they are few and far between. The little things define ourselves, our relationships and our lives.

The memories that persist are deceptively simple, such as a friend walking me to class even though theirs was in the opposite direction, sharing dinner and a smile, compliments from strangers and befriending friends of friends.

Being present in life for no other purpose than to enjoy the moment is no easy feat for an ambitious college student seeking to accomplish all their wildest aspirations. Growing pains always hurt a little and emotional expansions aren’t exempt. Past alumni have given me a plethora of anecdotal advice, so I’ll leave you with the most poignant.

I realized moving with candor removes any ounce of regret. Learning to speak with a pure heart is tough, but it is a discipline that has made an indescribable difference in my life.

Slowly, this change into adulthood swelled into a deep wave of recognition. At its heart, college is about the connections we develop. My gratitude flows endlessly for those with whom I’ve had the privilege to spend these formative years. I give boundless thanks for broadening the horizons in my mind, stretching the world and advancing the way I viewed it.

To those who witnessed my choices, my missteps, my triumphs and allowed me to fail and prevail, free from judgment and uplifted with support and faith—our bonds can never be broken, and the love never lost. The difficult truth is that our time here was temporary, and people will drift in and out as naturally as the tides. Should we cross paths again, may we look back on these days with laughter and light. There is no such thing as a life that’s better than yours, so make sure the people in it love you dearly.

Time is not our enemy. We have not lost these years. They live on forever in our memories. A larger purpose is beckoning. Can’t you feel it? As we rise, defying every expectation, our ambitions are calling. Can’t you hear them? Energy does not lie. There is a world of love to step into, mistakes to rue, people to impact and directions to alter.

Did I change the world for the better? Maybe not yet, but I changed someone’s, and that is worthy. Big things earn big rings, and I have ten fingers to fill!

Katherine Quinn, Class of 2022

Published on May 11, 2022 at 10:21 pm