Present is Now, Optimism is How I have cried for the world's sorrows, laughed at its joys and been swept away by its endless beauty. I have touched brisk mountain tops and paced tranquil ocean floors. I have witnessed the strength of countless men and women and become part of communities I did not know existed. I fell in love with life and humanity. All this because I jumped. In Hope Against Hope: Three Schools, One City, and the Struggle to Educate America’s Children by Sarah Carr, Geraldlynn says, “I’m not going to go to college as soon as I get out of high school… It’s gonna be a long four years, I want a year off” (Carr 216). The Dillard student guide, Bianca, responded to Geraldlynn’s remark with concern. My mother reacted similarly when she discovered that I wanted to postpone my matriculation into Tulane. Many educators tout taking a gap year, saying that kids who step off after high school to work, travel, volunteer or explore other interests are more mature when they arrive at college and more engaged in their education going forward. Like Geraldlynn, the thought of four more years of arduous classes and strenuous exams seemed unappealing to me. I believe that 18 is an ideal age to explore the world, reflect on personal goals, and prepare to take the next purposeful step in life. Ultimately I did not end up taking a gap year, however, it will be a long-lasting regret. After reading Geraldlynn’s comment about delaying college, I reminisced to the time when I contemplated a year of exploration. Life cannot be experienced by sitting in a desk or 
behind the pages of a book. One must jump up out of there seat, place the book to the side, be optimistic, and go.