Carpe diem.
To give a little background, I first heard this ‘speech’ in my high school English class. It was nearing the end of the school year and we were watching Dead Poets Society. In this scene, the class is standing around a glass case filled with pictures of past classes from many years ago. And during this scene, Robin Williams gives this informal motivational ‘speech’ that truly inspired me.
Seize the day.
In his speech, Williams begins by reminding us that we are all only human and our time here on earth is short and will eventually come to an end. He continues by showing his students pictures of old students, asking them to examine their eyes and see how alike they are. They have the same gleam in their eyes, excited to live their lives and trying to find their purpose. Feeling invincible and ready to take on the world. It didn’t matter that they may be many years older, at that point they were the same.
Williams tells them to seize the day. For life is short lived and to truly live it you have to take advantage of every day. Live each day as if it were your last. This message, I feel, is something all young people can relate to.
Williams used just a few minutes to deliver a powerful message that has touched me and many others. Comparing the people of the past to the ones in the room, telling them to seize the day. It is a short and simple speech that has a meaning like none other.
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