"What We Are Capable Of" by Amber T

      Time and time again, I’ve heard the phrase “Do you have a ‘thing’ with that person?” continuously used by our friends and classmates a rather ambiguous, uncertain question. Yet we all understand what they’re referring to, the possibility of a relationship with that other person or rather the potential of love. That simple word, “ potential” . It’s not too difficult of a word, I mean we are all aware of its existence and usage, but why is it when we question the very uncertainty of one’s relationship that we still use the word ‘thing’? Perhaps, we are still slightly confused with the word (quite frankly, I still am) and all of it’s importance.
      Potential is defined as having the capability to develop into something bigger, possibly more successful or life changing, etc. It is a word that quantifies our possibilities. But we can’t really distinguish our own possibilities whether it’s regarding our relationship or ourselves in general. We fail to look past the present towards the future, deeming ourselves of being incapable of growth. It is rather difficult to see where and what you’ll be like ten, five, or even a year from now. Will I be a successful young nurse or will I still be sitting here, simply eating a cookie until enough time passes by that I realize there is work to be done? Maybe that’s why we use the assumed ‘thing’ in our generation, to try to make up for our confusion on just what is all of our potential and what does that mean.
     But that’s just it. We aren’t supposed to know our potential. It’s an infinite list of just what is possible of what you’re possible of. You’re meant to be confused. I know I am with the upcoming acceptances and decisions that plague me in the very near future. But this uncertainty of what may be, is simply a catalyst for how and what you should do at this present time. That you should behave and make decisions, not completely disregarding how it’ll affect your future, but for you to grow and experience life for all of its possibilities good or bad. Of course you’ll falter from time to time, but hey you’re going to try your best to become that person you want to be in the future. Your potential is what you make of it for we are all capable of something more, of something great and amazing. And that doesn’t mean you have to be a renowned musician or director, but that you can be a kind, caring, hardworking individual that tries their absolute hardest to discover just what their potential is. So go ahead and stop and help that kid who dropped all their books during passing period or defend your opinion, no matter how different it may be from others, because there you’ll realize that you are not defined by your potential, but by your experiences to try to live up to who you want to be, a potentially outstanding person.