Carpe diem was first recorded in Horace’s lyric poem “Odes 1.11” over 2,000 years ago.
“Seize the day” has since then been modernized (or bastardized, depending on who you ask) to the simple four letter acronym, YOLO (you only live once).
The lifestyle that the simple acronym has portrayed for young people is that they can do whatever reckless, unsound activity without repercussions because they are young, wild and free.
This lifestyle is mocked by the media, political figures, and people in this country over the age of 20, and rightfully so.
Even so, I believe that at its core, YOLO can be a very powerful and positive ideology to living life.
This semester I am pledging Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
I have not played a musical instrument in over six years, nor have I ever sung in front of anyone or anything other than my bathroom shower head.
I woke up one morning near the end of last semester and realized that socially I had not accomplished what I wanted in college.
As a first year senior I was distraught; my collegiate career is nearly over, so what could I do with what little time I have left?
Anything that I want.
I learned this lesson last semester from a 60-year-old male cancer survivor student who told me it’s never too late to live your dream.
I use this as inspiration to seize the day, to try new things, to be proud of the person I am in the mirror.
You only live once, so make sure everything you do is done with pride, and every person you meet is treated by you with integrity, respect and love.
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