As a new semester begins, students arrive on campus with no academic burdens weighing them down. They approach the year excited at the prospect of the time before classwork and extracurricular activities cause them to self-isolate in the library anytime they aren’t in class or sleeping. For some, it lasts until midterms. For others, it ended after the first day of classes.
I spoke with one of my friends about this period of no responsibilities, and she said it reminded her of a term she discussed in a class once, what she called a “golden era.” The term is familiar to those who have seen the 2011 film starring Owen Wilson titled “Midnight In Paris.” In the movie, the characters travel further and further back in time throughout Parisian history. A common theme occurs when they meet the people of this new period, the current inhabitants of that time long for their golden era. Not the time they were currently in, which was the golden age of the folks that time traveled there, but the era that came before it.
While college students are not traveling back in time, they will soon long for that brief time when they could meet up with their friends on Edward’s Parade during the day, nap or just have an evening to themselves with no worries of homework or tasks to accomplish. It goes even further than just this month. People yearn for the golden era of their youth. It’s a common refrain when I say that I am currently in college that the other person sighs and says something along the lines of “those were the days.”
After thinking about this concept, I began to feel that many college students take advantage of the idea that they will be able to do something later on in their college experience. For example, those going abroad in the spring semester are beginning to realize that they won’t be here for both semesters this year. It creates a sense of panic that they need to begin to fit in as many activities as possible. However, it just requires some time management and commitment to maximize the time and opportunities we have in front of us now.
It may even be worse for Fordham University students because of the iconic and always-changing city right at our fingertips, just a Metro-North ride away. Family members constantly inquire about all the events you go to in New York City. Little do they know, taking advantage of the Big Apple when balancing schoolwork and social life is somewhat challenging. It creates a sense of missing out on something you do not technically have to participate in. I personally feel obligated to go to Manhattan as much as I can. I love going, but sometimes I get off the D train and wonder what I really went there for.
What is the best remedy to this feeling of time passing us by? Embracing it.
This period of our lives will not last forever. Take advantage of anything and everything you can do. So what if you do not have a set itinerary for going to the Lower East Side one day? What you can discover on your own will make a better memory than passing on going because it was viewed as a purposeless trip. Plus, there is no way you can get bored in Manhattan. There are so many parks to people watch in or streets you have never seen before. It’s up to you whether you go or not.
College is stressful and busy, but this will become one of our golden eras. It is so easy to make a million excuses not to do something, especially in this time of “protecting your peace,” and since COVID-19 people are more than happy to establish boundaries surrounding social events. These aren’t bad things, but do not let it stop you from trying something new. The worst thing that can happen is you never do it again. Who knows? Maybe it will make a great story.
As semesters keep flying by at Fordham, live with a carpe diem mindset. When you look back, you can fondly remember the time when you did something great. As Wayne Gretzky famously said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” So wind up, and fire away.
