“You can’t change the past or the future, you can only change what’s now.” I have had difficulty living in the present throughout most of my life. I’ve always been worried about my future. My father is a Mexican immigrant, so he always told me I couldn’t waste opportunities. Transferring to a university has made me even more aware of all the opportunities I missed or ignored. There are times when I wish I had spent more time on projects for my portfolios or taken opportunities to bolster my resume, even if it wouldn’t have been possible. I know my peers, especially college-bound ones, feel the same. In high school, I took a course on Community Restoration, where we used group circles to help resolve conflicts and discuss emotions. Before every session, we were reminded to be present in the moment. I took this for granted at the time, but I have realized now how important it is to be present. It’s easy to get caught up in what you could have done with your past. My mom is an artist, and she regrets not doing more art when she was younger, but I told her that she wouldn’t be the artist she is if she took a different path. Guilt and regret should be used to motivate, not to hurt. When I wish I exercised more, I exercise. When I wish I did more art, I do more art. It doesn’t matter if you give up, or how long it takes you to get better because what matters is that you are living your life in the moment.