Six-thousand-two-hundred-eighty-two. That is how many days I have survived on this planet—and the time never stops ticking up. What have you done with your time, Hayden? What memories have you collected over your current lifetime? I ask myself. What is your best memory—and why? And, I think back to the memories I have made in my life, quite a lot actually! But how could I only pick one day that is most memorable?

I sharply remember the day I turned thirteen. Finally, I thought. I am a teenager! I am a big kid in middle school. 

I also vividly remember my first day of high school, at the prestigious Arrowhead High School. I am so scared! I told my mother. I look back to that day and chuckle at how frightened I was. Isn't it funny how frightening challenges can be in the moment? 

I clearly remember the day I got awarded my Eagle Scout. Finally, I thought. All my hard work has paid off. And, I remember the first day I got my drivers license. I am finally free! I thought. I can drive wherever, whenever I want! 

I don’t remember the days, I remember the moments. I remember the moment I realized my age and how old I was getting. Am I seriously seventeen years old, already? I remember the moment I realized I was in high school, and that my next step is college. I am doing now what I always dreamt of doing! I remember the moment I got the freedom to drive. Wow, I am finally in the driver’s seat now! 

In my experience, the best memories of mine are when my biggest dreams and accomplishments have come true, and the scariest realities of mine come immediately after. I begin to notice all the fun I have been having and the young experiences I have had. And now I am starting to realize that soon that stage of my life will end, and I don’t know how to react.

Life is bitter sweet. I have always had my eyes set on my future: working hard to get good grades and putting in work to stay fit and healthy. But as I near the age of eighteen, I worry that I have passed up too many exciting opportunities that I will never get the chance to do. I worry that I have focused too much on my future and that I haven’t focused enough on the present. As I look back on my past—the mere six-thousand-two-hundred-eighty-two days I have been alive—I in turn ask you what have you done with your life? What have you done with your time? Life is a blessing and each day is a chance to live life to its fullest and change the world for the better. Are you passing up too many opportunities to live life to the fullest?