With Trimester 1 finals approaching around the corner, I found myself dreading the moment I would have to begrudgingly pour over past notes and flashcards. The terms “exam” and “enjoyable” seldom belong in the same sentence: sleepless nights, frantic cramming sessions, and the pervading stress are all unwelcome symptoms. However, as a senior, the thought that this Trimester 1 final would be the last one of my entire life prompted a contemplative dilemma of sorts.
Was this supposed to be a celebratory moment, marking one step closer to graduation? Was this supposed to be a reflective moment for finishing another piece of high school I could never repeat? Was this supposed to be a memorable moment I would view in a melancholic light as an adult?
There is a sentimental value that is firmly rooted within “last moments”. It makes individuals more attentive and appreciative of the mundane details that had been previously overlooked. While Trimester 1 finals might be a more prominent occurrence, many other events swiftly pass unnoticed for the last time. For instance, would I have held a different attitude toward the day I had placed down my final LEGO piece if I had been aware that I would never play with them again, or given my middle school a second glance if I had known it would be the last day of in-person school before the pandemic?
More often than not, we all tend to become fixated on the future, longing for the latest accessory, a higher education, or another promotion. The promise of a reinvented self–immune to current faults, problems, and worries–makes the future an incredibly beckoning thought. However, a life geared toward it becomes an unquenchable thirst, never to be satisfied. It can be easy to fall into an endless cycle of longing for the weekend, summer break, or graduation, resulting in each day blending into a monotonous blur.
There is no denying that some days might seem to be more transformative and influential than others. However, if we slowed down and treated each day as a “last moment”, we might finally begin to notice everything that had once been overlooked. While the end of finals and the start of Thanksgiving Break are nice to look forward to, there might also be some enjoyable experiences hidden amidst the looming pressure of this upcoming finals week.
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