I believe in living life to the fullest. Without even trying, my dad has taught me the importance of spontaneity and positive thinking. When I look at him, I see someone who has tried everything. He is set out on an endless adventure, finding new hobbies or sports to try around every corner. Every moment that he gets he is urging us to try something new. It is because of this that I try my hardest to jump at any new opportunity that comes my way. Whether it is surfing, sailing, or snowboarding, I've got it covered. Too often I have heard relatives and parents reflect back on their lives and they will list there regrets or things they wish that could have tried. My goal is to never let this happen.

It was this past summer when my family took a trip to Maui for two weeks. We didn't really have any specific plans, but the idea of sitting on the beach every day was enough to get us packed and out the door. The morning after we arrived, still jet lagged from the time change, we decided to wake up at 3 am and drive to the top of a mountain just so we could see the sun rise. My dad and I were the first to jump out of bed, ready to take on something new. When we made it to the top we realized we had to wait two hours and it was freezing out. I tried my hardest not to complain, because I knew that whatever was coming had to be good. After all, there were about 30 other people up there just waiting for the sun. So, at around 5:30 it started to rise and everyone shed their blankets and grabbed their cameras. It was beautiful. I never thought I would be watching the sun rise from the top of a mountain in Hawaii . For the remainder of the trip we seized every opportunity that was laid out before us. One day we decided we were going to learn how to surf, which is something we have talked about for years but we never acted upon it. By the end of the day we were paddling out and riding the waves back in. This was a trip full of new experiences that I will never forget. I realized that when you want something you just have to take a chance and go after it. I feel that this is the key to happiness and a life fulfilled. There isn't time to contemplate about whether or not you can achieve something, you just have to do it.

I cherish the unforgettable moments and I live for those that take me by surprise. People are constantly hung up on the every day stress and pressure that they forget to just take a step back. Life is unpredictable and I refuse to be that person who looks back and wishes they could do it all over again. We only get one life, and I'm going to make the most of mine.