The Composer

Piecing together our experiences to form a harmonious life

Shelby Zheng

We create the life we want. That’s why vision boards exist. Desire is fulfilled because we will it to be. We choose the path we deem most worthwhile. One could argue everything in life is already set in stone, and we are simply living its course. But do we not choose alternate paths? We can change our majors, unsend messages, restart a project—the list is endless. We are in control of our own destinies. 

People pick the people they want to be surrounded by, especially in college. It’s the time of our lives to choose what we want to be, do, see, and experience. It’s all in our hands—the classes we want to take, where to study, when to go home, how we want our coffee, what music we listen to, what exercise to do, and how we spend our time.

These are all daily choices we make to curate the world we live in. Bad things happen, yes, but what we do despite them is what matters. How we choose to act matters. The words we speak. The love we give. The beauty of being a composer is deciding the exact details of the piece you want to exhibit. The beauty of being human is deciding what you want to do, who you spend time with, where you go, how you want to get there, and why you want to do it. Whether you live a rhythmic life or choose a dynamic adventure, every day, you determine if you want harmony.

Please do not forget that the joy and excitement in life come from change, especially the changes you have a say in. Nothing is meant to last forever, so take advantage of your time, space, and creativity. Appreciate the impermanence of what is, what once was, and what will be. It’s all in your favor.