The world is waiting

Star exponent article this week... Enjoy

I called my mom to let her know that grades were up and I had received a 4.0.

“First time ever?”

“Yes, Mom — first time.”

“Great honey, how’s the beach?”

My parents were never the kind to drive around with the “I have an honor roll student” sticker on their bumper. Grades were always a key topic in our house, along with the importance of college and the significance behind a good handshake, but what I always admired about my parent’s unconventional style of teaching had nothing to do with school.

My mom always told us that the “The classroom has a lot to offer, but so does the world.”

She’s right. Sure, books are wonderful and solving unrealistic math problems offer a great feeling of success when accomplished, but as long as I remained a 3.0 student my parents never said no to a day off of school for exploration purposes.

No, exploration purposes don’t mean safari trips in Africa. They can be anything from staying home and watching Regis and Kelly, running down at the park or going to Virginia Beach on a business trip with Dad.

Remember, these are just my opinions — my insignificant opinions, but who’s to say that one line out of a talk show host’s mouth can’t change your life? Who’s going to argue that there is a chance your run at the park could lead you to be inspired by a quote someone had written in chalk on the concrete path.

The world has a lot to offer — who’s going to dispute that?

Last Friday, four of my friends and I walked directly from the classroom to the car and drove 16 hours to beautiful Palm Beach, Fla. Although my hooky days in high school were well spent, I can proudly say I did not have one unexcused absence during my junior year and with that, I can enjoyably state that for the first time in my life I received a 4.0 GPA.

I’ve met numerous people that allow their GPA to determine their mood for weeks, even months into the summer, but my momentary high was quickly put in to perspective after my phone call to my mom.

I’m in college, I’m supposed to do the best I can. I’m supposed to take advantage of my time here and yes, I am supposed to get a 4.0 — it’s my job. There is no time to waste basking in my grades, I have waves to admire and sand to dig my toes in to.

So College Advice: My cousin, who now works for the Kansas City Royals, told me that if there was one thing he wishes someone would have told him at my age, it would be, “to enjoy every single moment.” Enjoy your grades and then enjoy your lunch. There is a lot of world out there — notice it.