I’m gonna try harder this year.
I’m gonna do work this year. It’s gonna be work this year. Not stuff to just hurry up and finish.
I’ll look at what I’m supposed to read before I’m in class. And maybe not even while I’m on the way.
I’ll understand the words as I read them. Not just hurry up and get to the next line, the next paragraph, the next page, the next assignment.
And I’m not going to hurry up and get to next year.
I’ll understand this year, my last year. Not just think about graduating.
It’s been an incredible three years and it’s not over yet. The best years of our lives. I don’t want to spend my time planning the future.
I want to appreciate now.
This year, I’ll think-or not, as the case may be-about what I’m doing as I do it. And not think about “What next.”
I’ve got time.
I bought the books for the GRE. That’s good enough, right?
You can take the test whenever you want?
I’ve got time.
I’ve begun the 4-step registration process at the Career Center. I think my resume is up there. The database can wait, right? The economy isn’t that good anyway. Time to make improvements.
Lots of time.
But the clock is winding down.My clock at WU.
This year I’ll actually get to those places I’ve said “I’ve always meant to go to.”
I won’t go for Thai or Al-Tarboush every time I dine on the Loop. The gyros will wait. This year, I’ll eat Ethiopian. I’ll splurge for the Melting Pot. And not just dessert.
I’ll go to other Schnuck’s and experience a non-Clayton world. I will go to Dierberg’s when it opens.
I’ll spend more time at the Botanical Gardens. And I won’t get lost on the way.
I’ll check out more places on the Hill.
I’ll see movies at the Hi-Pointe. I will help the small businessman stay alive.
I’ll figure out what’s up with Fontbonne. I will make human contact.
I’ll check out more local music, especially St. Louis’ specialty-jazz.
I will see B.B. King at Blueberry Hill.
I will appreciate St. Louis for what it is and not condemn it for what it’s not.
I’ll explore those beautiful neighborhoods around Forsyth, and not drool too long at each house.
I will master navigation of Forest Park. I’ll rent a paddle-boat, sled down the Art Hill and play golf. Naw, I’ll just drive the cart.
Maybe I’ll make it to Branson and see a Missouri other than St. Louis’.
I’ll make more surprise visits to friends’ places.
I will play less Snood. The “just one more game” option will mean just that.
I will recite-correctly-more Simpson’s lines.
Now that I’m 21, I will fully participate in the Anheuser Busch tour.
I’ll buy more rounds and fight to pay for meals.
I’ll have more late-night conversations on the steps of Brookings.
I’ll just have more late-night, all-night conversations.
I’ll be more spontaneous. Of course, I can’t exactly plan that.
I’ll stop and chat with people I’ve lost touch with. So what if I’m five minutes late.
I’ll throw a big party and not know everyone who comes.
I’ll go to an athletic event and increase the audience numbers exponentially.
I’ll pay attention, too.
I’ll leave myself more time to enjoy the walk to campus.
I’ll leave myself more time to enjoy being on-campus.
Soon I’ll be graduating on this campus.
Soon I’ll be leaving.
But I’ve got time.
Time is horizontal. I can’t stop it from passing.
But I can expand it vertically. Do more things. Appreciate more life.
I will make the most of my final year here at WU.
Soon I’ll be leaving.
But I’ve got time.
-Emily Fredrix