Time of Your Life
August 28, 2024
Credit: Pinterest
Writer: Ava Malkin
Editors: Dani Eder, Alex Gatoff, & Kate Shapiro
College students are often bombarded by the phrase, “Have the time of your life.” The motivational and endearing saying suggests that these four years will involve some of the highest highs and lowest lows we will experience in our lives.
To me, nothing embodies this mantra better than Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).” Two minutes and thirty-three seconds of true introspective and social insights (and pure genius, if you ask me). While the catchy guitar strumming and melodic voice of lead singer Billie Joe Amstrong makes the song all the more entrancing, the lyrics provide this rock/indie tune with power and meaning.
This song represents the importance of facing and overcoming obstacles and emerging better because of them. Armstrong repeats, “It's something unpredictable. But in the end, it's right.” These words recognize that struggles and shortcomings are inevitable. However, they also present opportunities for growth. Instead of viewing hardships as paralyzing and devastating, Green Day suggests that they should be considered destiny–sometimes things are meant to happen to us to form our characters and shape our identities. In these simple nine words, this band touches upon fate, the inevitability of irregularity, and the value of looking at silver linings. Even when things don’t go our way, we can choose to find the silver lining in a situation: that, in the end, it will be right.
This concept holds true for many teenagers like myself who are ready to move into college dorms or houses. Whether it be in relation to friendships, professors, classes, clubs, etc., we must remember that sometimes things might not function as we imagine them; however, each and every challenge is not a calamity but an indication that fate chose a different path for us.“Turning point[s]” and “fork[s] stuck in the road” may arise, but we must all “make the best of” them, as succumbing to challenges is much less fulfilling than forming meaningful memories.
Armstrong passionately emphasizes the importance of making memories with the lyrics “So take the photographs and still frames in your mind. Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time.” These lines highlight the importance of enjoying every moment while it lasts, while also reminding us that every interaction, joy, and struggle is not everlasting.
College only lasts four years. Make all the memories, take all the pictures, let go of the stresses — take in every second.
“For what it's worth, it was worth all the while.” Every aspect of our college lives is worth the experience and worth remembering. Every tear, every giggle, every group photo, every FaceTime back home, and every late-night study session is worth it in the end. Even the most minor instances, whether they seem like gifts or burdens at the time, end up being stories for our families, laughs later in life, and the factors that define us as individuals. Sometimes I find myself forgetting to appreciate the little moments as I get caught up in my college routine, so I thank “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” for the gentle reminder to appreciate and relish in every second I can.
As we all have the time of our lives, keep Armstrong’s words in mind. Recognize that struggles will inevitably appear, but we must remember they are an important part of helping us grow, so make memories, appreciate the little things, and enjoy every moment of your college experience.
