A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. Potential for heavy rainfall. High near 60F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch..
Tonight
Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low 52F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
As a senior standing on the precipice of graduation, my friends and I have grown increasingly sentimental, eager to make the most of the time we have left together. We talk about the memories we want to create, the bucket list items we want to cross off — midnight picnics on the football field, pulling an all-nighter to watch the sunrise, leaving our mark in places that meant so much to us over the years. These plans have become our unofficial checklist before the bell rings on our high school lives for the last time.
Yet, as we brainstorm these adventures, I can’t help but notice how this planning mirrors another moment of reflection: drafting New Year’s resolutions as the calendar flips to January. Both are driven by the same human tendency — to wait until we’re at the edge of a chapter before deciding to act. And now, as I sit here envisioning future memories, I find myself wondering: Why do we always wait until the clock is ticking down to take risks or embrace change?
Last year, a friend of mine wrote an op-ed about how, as a senior, she started saying hi to people in the hallways — friends, acquaintances, even strangers. Her reasoning was simple: In a few months, she’d be “gone anyway,” so why not branch out and make the best of her final semester? At the time, I applauded her words but didn’t fully absorb them. I was busy living on autopilot, rushing between classes and commitments, too wrapped up in my routine to truly notice the world around me.
It wasn’t until this year that her message truly sank in. I was walking past the library when I saw a boy from my computer science class struggling to carry a towering stack of posters. Normally, I would’ve passed him quickly with a polite smile. But this time, I stopped, grabbed a few posters from his pile, and struck up a conversation as we walked.
That small gesture turned into a friendship I hadn’t expected. At that moment, I realized how much I’d been holding back, waiting for some undefined “perfect moment” to make my days more meaningful.
The truth is, we’re all guilty of this, aren’t we? Waiting for the stars to align before diving into something new. “I’ll join that club next semester when I’m less busy.” “I’ll reach out to that old friend when things settle down.” “I’ll start working on my dream after this next big milestone.”
Recommended for you
The reality is, there’s no such thing as the perfect moment. Time doesn’t pause for us to gather courage or sort out our fears. Instead, it rushes forward, leaving us to wonder why we waited so long to leap.
The holiday season is an especially important reminder of this. For weeks, we scurry through traditions, promising ourselves that “next year” we’ll celebrate differently — reach out to that estranged family member, volunteer more or simply pause to enjoy the moment. But just like our senior bucket lists or those New Year’s resolutions, these promises often go unfulfilled because we’re too focused on waiting for the “right time.”
If I could rewind to last year, I’d tell myself to take my friend’s advice seriously. I’d remind myself that change doesn’t have to wait for a monumental occasion. The end of senior year — or the start of a new year — might feel like the natural time to act, but in reality, the best time is always right now.
So here’s my advice to anyone reading this as we step into 2025: Don’t wait until the deadline, the new year or the goodbye hugs at graduation. Start now. Say hi in the hallways. Organize that last-minute adventure. Live as if the clock has already started ticking, because it has.
Jeannine Chang is a senior at Burlingame High School. Student News appears in the weekend edition. You can email Student News at news@smdailyjournal.com.
You are so right, Jeannine! Your column reminds me of “Christmas” in the Scandinavian countries, which is celebrated as a secular event called “Jul”, or Yuletide, relating to the original celebration way back in history, before that annual event was hijacked and “Christianized”, thus splitting people apart. In Scandinavia, you can pass any stranger on the street, lift your hat and wish him or her “God Jul”, which means “Good” and has nothing “godly” about it, and get a smile and a similar greeting in return. No one gets offended by that positive spreading of good wishes. Isn’t that the way it should be, - and could be, without contaminating it with superstition?
Jorge, let me edit your opinion so it is welcoming and not devisive.
You are so right, Jeannine! Your column reminds me of “Christmas” in the Scandinavian countries, which is a celebration called “Jul”, or Yuletide, relating to the original celebration way back in history where Scandinavians celebrated with all people. In Scandinavia, you can pass any stranger on the street, lift your hat and wish him or her “God Jul”, which means “Good” and get a smile and a similar greeting in return. That positive spreading of good wishes is amazing.
Jorg - allow me to provide some context. While your ancestors, the Vikings, were still raping and pillaging neighboring countries during the Dark Ages, Christianity was encroaching and eventually took hold. Christmas was not celebrated until the 12th Century by Christians and they were also unsure of Jesus Christ's birthday. Since many regions and religions, including the Heathens of what is now called Scandinavia, had celebrations around this time for various reasons, Christians also decided to celebrate simultaneously. There is no hijacking, just a merger of a common desire to celebrate. Christmas is celebrated in Norway to this day although the outward displays are typical and different from other neighboring countries. Feliz Navidad in Spanish, Frohlich Weinachten in German, and Zalig Kerstfeest in Dutch.
Yes, Dirk! We celebrate this event in Norway, called Jul, or the equivalent of Yuletide, - not contaminated with superstition and religious nonsense! And what on Flat Earth do the Vikings have to do with today’s customs? Poor yourself a Heineken!
Wrong again, Dirk! Sorry to disappoint you, but Norway, along with the other Nordic countries, is consistently rated on top of the Happiness roster, - and for good reason, - whether you like it or not. Although I must admit, - I’m surprised that someone, anyone, wouldn’t be happy to learn that?! Their happiness may have something to do with Scandinavian secularism, wouldn’t you think? No argument about which of the thousands of invented gods, is the best one, nor any argument about which mysterious rituals to follow blindly. Instead, they focus on more important stuff, - like making others happy, too.
Willallen - Great point! The biggest scrooge of them all is now living in the USA and that's why Nordic countries are so happy. No Jorge Ebenezer Scrooge Aadahl.
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO
personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who
make comments. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Don't threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Anyone violating these rules will be issued a
warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be
revoked.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
(7) comments
You are so right, Jeannine! Your column reminds me of “Christmas” in the Scandinavian countries, which is celebrated as a secular event called “Jul”, or Yuletide, relating to the original celebration way back in history, before that annual event was hijacked and “Christianized”, thus splitting people apart. In Scandinavia, you can pass any stranger on the street, lift your hat and wish him or her “God Jul”, which means “Good” and has nothing “godly” about it, and get a smile and a similar greeting in return. No one gets offended by that positive spreading of good wishes. Isn’t that the way it should be, - and could be, without contaminating it with superstition?
Jorge, let me edit your opinion so it is welcoming and not devisive.
You are so right, Jeannine! Your column reminds me of “Christmas” in the Scandinavian countries, which is a celebration called “Jul”, or Yuletide, relating to the original celebration way back in history where Scandinavians celebrated with all people. In Scandinavia, you can pass any stranger on the street, lift your hat and wish him or her “God Jul”, which means “Good” and get a smile and a similar greeting in return. That positive spreading of good wishes is amazing.
Jorg - allow me to provide some context. While your ancestors, the Vikings, were still raping and pillaging neighboring countries during the Dark Ages, Christianity was encroaching and eventually took hold. Christmas was not celebrated until the 12th Century by Christians and they were also unsure of Jesus Christ's birthday. Since many regions and religions, including the Heathens of what is now called Scandinavia, had celebrations around this time for various reasons, Christians also decided to celebrate simultaneously. There is no hijacking, just a merger of a common desire to celebrate. Christmas is celebrated in Norway to this day although the outward displays are typical and different from other neighboring countries. Feliz Navidad in Spanish, Frohlich Weinachten in German, and Zalig Kerstfeest in Dutch.
Yes, Dirk! We celebrate this event in Norway, called Jul, or the equivalent of Yuletide, - not contaminated with superstition and religious nonsense! And what on Flat Earth do the Vikings have to do with today’s customs? Poor yourself a Heineken!
Norway must have a lot of Scrooges.
Wrong again, Dirk! Sorry to disappoint you, but Norway, along with the other Nordic countries, is consistently rated on top of the Happiness roster, - and for good reason, - whether you like it or not. Although I must admit, - I’m surprised that someone, anyone, wouldn’t be happy to learn that?! Their happiness may have something to do with Scandinavian secularism, wouldn’t you think? No argument about which of the thousands of invented gods, is the best one, nor any argument about which mysterious rituals to follow blindly. Instead, they focus on more important stuff, - like making others happy, too.
Willallen - Great point! The biggest scrooge of them all is now living in the USA and that's why Nordic countries are so happy. No Jorge Ebenezer Scrooge Aadahl.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.