It is very easy to brush things off with the excuse that you “don’t have time” or “don’t feel like” doing them; however, this mentality can come back to haunt you in the long run.

I have heard many people say their biggest fear is that they’ll look back and say “I wish I had done…”

Finish that sentence any way you like.

The truth is, most people do not want to look back on their lives with regrets.
This is something I have only recently come to terms with, and looking back, I do have regrets.

There are many things I wish I had done, or taken the opportunity to do when it was offered to me.

This has become especially apparent in my college life.

As my college life draws to a close, I have been hit with the stark reality that there are several things I wish I had done, but mostly there are things I wish I had done sooner.

I wish I had gone to see more events at the Dounda Fine Arts Center.

In just one semester I have had the privilege of seeing several incredibly talented people perform in many different ways, and I am sick at heart to think of all the talented people I missed out on seeing.

I also wish I had joined an RSO sooner.

I joined ALT-TV, an RSO dedicated to writing and producing original video content, at the beginning of the semester, and even in the short time I have been involved with it, I have felt as if I belonged.

Thinking of the things I could have accomplished had I gotten involved sooner burns me up inside.

One of the biggest regrets I have is not starting to work at student media sooner.

Not only have I learned a wealth of things about myself throughout the course of my time working at The Daily Eastern News, it provides unequivocal benefits when it comes to job hunting.

Had I begun working for student media sooner, I would have all the more chances to further my future career.

These are the kinds of regrets that can easily be prevented.

I knew about all of these things for the majority of my college career.

The only thing stopping me from doing these things was myself.

If I have learned anything from this, it is not to hold yourself back from things you want to try.

Mercury Bowen is a senior journalism major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or at mjbowen@eiu.edu.