I HAVE always been a believer in not wasting time. Whatever time I had on hand, I wanted to use it productively. It always had to serve a purpose—whether it was for a good grade, improving at a sport, or learning a new skill. It had to add value.
“Every second counts.” Those three words were imprinted on my mind from a young age.
I grew up surrounded by people who supported me. Whatever I pursued, they pushed me to be better—to always work harder. My mom would say, “Hard work is the only thing you can rely on,” and I took that to heart.
Growing up, nothing was ever satisfactory. There was always room for improvement. A grade of B+ could have been an A, only if I were better at studying. Even an A did not mean I had done it perfectly.
I was, and still am, highly competitive. I was the type of student who wanted to win every single game—even if it were those stupid math competitions in class. Losing was never an option.
This competitiveness manifested most in sports, particularly basketball. I remember being 13, crying to my dad because I was not as good as my peers. I was frustrated by my lack of talent, by my inability to do what others could. My dad’s response was simple: if I felt that way, I should be working harder.
“Every second counts.” Those three words echoed over and over in my mind as I ran for the 20th time around the basketball court.
If I put in more hours into training than anyone else, I was bound to be better than all of them. Right?
When I started college, I became arrogant. I thought I figured out the framework to succeed in life: work hard, waste no time—every second counts.
I said yes to almost everything presented to me. Student organization positions, internships, side gigs, and even sports leagues—I accepted all of them, believing I knew how to handle my time.
“Every second counts.” Those three words repeated in my mind as I struggled to finish an impossible number of tasks in an impossible amount of time.
My days started to be packed with meetings, classes, and studying. I spent my nights glued to my laptop. I missed out on major family events because I was too “busy.” I rarely made the time to hang out with my friends and loved ones because I thought it would be a waste of time. Every second counts, right?
Eventually, I realized that pursuing something was not the problem. I just had to learn to redefine what spending time wisely really meant.
“Every second counts.” Those three words are what I still live by. Yet now, every moment spent with my family is a cherished one, especially that we’re all currently living our own lives and I don’t see them often anymore.
“Every second counts.” I remind myself this more often as my time in Ateneo nears its end. There will never be another time quite like this.
Paolo is a fourth-year Management Information Systems student at the Ateneo de Manila University. With a background in tech, he aims to create impactful change for the good of society.
Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed by the opinion writer do not necessarily state or reflect those of the publication.
