Ten Things I Most Treasure as a 15-year-old

I'm having one of my philosophical moments...After listening to the words of Randy Pausch on Oprah's show, I have begun to realize the true meaning of life: to live to the fullest and treasure every little moment before you lose it all. His farewell lecture gave me a reality check and reminded me of the words of Thornton Wilder in his play 'Our Town'. Emily, a character which the play focuses upon, experiences both life and death, all of which render her peace, but she mourns for her loved ones on Earth who become so intent on the very details and little things of life that they miss the whole big picture. I really recommend you take a look at the video of him talking at CMU [on youtube, downloaded by the thousands already!]. He is a professor there who just found out he only had a few months left to live. His farewell lecture is his last message to his loved ones, especially his three youngsters, 2 sons and the youngest his daughter. So, anyway, on a brighter note :], here are the top ten things I treasure the most as a fifteen-year-old. There are so many more important things in life but these are the most important, an internal reflection after Pausch's truly touching message.

1) Family: What would I do without them? They are my fall back, my inspiration, everything that keeps my striving. They're always there when I need them and they truly care about me. I treasure them very, very, very much.

2) Time: "Make Time for What Matters -- Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think." - Randy Pausch Sometimes, I think I don't have enough time for this or for that, but stepping back, away from the ensnaring details that I worry about in the present, I see that I have had a childhood filled with time, time to do whatever I want, whenever I want. It's just I never appreciated the true value of time, so, it has become a very valuable thing.

3) Friends: I don't know what I would do without my friends. They're like my second family! :] I love them all very much and I hope they love me for who I am as well.

4) Fun: If you can dream it, you can do it. - Walt Disney This is my life's motto: Always have fun! If you're not having fun, why do it? 'Girls just wanna have fun!' So true, so true. Raging Waters, Great America, Six Flags Marine World, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, yay!

5) My Dreams: 'Dream Big, Dream Far, Dream High' When I was little, I wanted to be an astronaut...sounds really weird for a person like me, but I loved the idea so much that I researched all the planets at age six and wrote up a science notebook..but never finished. I drew pictures of Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, wrote on a few pages in childish writing, but the pages are still virtually white and empty. I've left that dream behind, but once in a while, I look up at the sky and search for all those constellations I memorized.

Dreams by Langston Hughes
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

6) Mistakes: Treasuring mistakes sounds pretty weird..but if you think about it, how would any of us learn if we didn't make mistakes. I mean, none of us are perfect..at least, I'm not. Everything I've done well, everything I've succeeded in only happened because I learned from my previous mistakes. Believe me, I've made a ton of them!

7) Gregory: What would I do without Gweggy! He's my life! Whenever I come home from school, he's always there to greet me! Ears back, tail wagging, tongue lolling out. AH-DORABLE =)

8) Risks: DANGER! Without danger, there's nothing that would spice up my life! "Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want and it can be the most valuable thing you have to offer." Dare to take a risk! Risks teach us so much: our potential and how to live our lives to the max!

9) Caffeine: I <3 Starbucks! White Chocolate Mocha, Cinnamon Dolce Latte! Coffee, coffee, coffee! Keeps me alive, warm, and awake =)

10) My room: It's my sanctuary, my place to think, my own place. This is where I spend the most of my time just relaxing and enjoying life. It has so many memories from my friends to school to family trips to my baby moments. It's the one thing I can call my own and that is why I treasure it so much!