“I believe it’s better to experience something, whether it’s a connection with someone or a specific event, even if it’s only for a short while. The absence of such experiences can impede personal growth because we often learn the most from our mistakes, which sometimes involve losing something we had briefly. Not having experienced something, figuratively speaking, implies missing out on the valuable lessons that come with it. Whether it’s interactions with people or events, there’s a goodness in knowledge to be gained — even if the connection is short-lived. Therefore, I believe that it’s better to have even a brief experience than to have none at all. Some things can last indefinitely, regardless of how quickly we may lose them.” — Ava Yoblonski, class of 2024
