When this article is posted, I will not be in my high school classroom learning. I won’t even be in Fort Collins. This isn’t because I’m a rebel or an illegal immigrant from Canada gone AWAL to rejoin my people, but because I will be going to a college preview in Denver.

For many people, the approaching college deadlines and scholarship applications are scary and big pains in the rear. For me, however, they are terrifying and comparable to having child birth. I am absolutely petrified at the prospect of going off to college and trying to be a responsible adult. There are hundreds of things to worry about: money, community, location, education quality, or even where we want to go after the whole “school” thing is over. All these things, along with petty insecurities about my responsibilities to my health and sanity, are bombarding me right now.

But what I want to focus on, and what I want all of you to focus on, is the now. Right now, we are still in school, taking tests and studying and doing homework for over a half dozen classes. We’re also making time for our friends, family, sleeping, entertainment, and dental hygiene (hopefully). I think we’re being pretty awesome right now.

Of course, it is important to think of the future. We can’t just run off to college without having a game plan, or we’ll end up unprepared and even more frightened. But let’s all just take a few steps back, a few deep breaths, and appreciate what we have right now. The now has friends and a familiar setting. The now has a bedroom just for you and parents who make dinner for you. The now has teachers who keep you on task so you don’t fail their tests.

College searches are important, but the now has more than you realize. Treasure now’s ‘now’, because later’s ‘now’ will have a different color palate to admire. You’ll be busy then.