Do you remember with fondness those years that have already passed? Do you remember passing notes in junior high and being jealous of that girl who could fold them super fancy? Do you remember playing kickball and lava monster during recess?

I do. And for many of us, those days are just that: past. We haven’t written a note with a gel pen in years, and maybe our kickball serve is a little rusty.

As college students, we have many draws on our time, such as school, jobs and extracurricular activities. We get wrapped up in studying, working and paying bills. Yes, it is important to be mature and deal with the responsibilities of being an independent adult. However, perhaps we are letting go of some aspects of our childhood just a little too quickly.

Laughter

It’s OK to laugh at yourself. Chances are you’re probably not as cool as you think you are, so don’t take things so seriously. Tell stupid knock-knock jokes. Giggle uncontrollably about something that really wasn’t that funny. Realize that it’s OK to let go every once in a while.

Spontaneity

The next time you’re bored, don’t just flip on the TV or browse the Internet. Get up! Go exploring! Maybe you’ll find a new coffee shop or a great park to play ultimate. Or even try exploring your building; maybe you’ll make some new friends and learn new words, like defenestrate — it means to throw someone or something out a window.

But there are some qualities that go beyond just being silly. Children look at the world with a sense of wonder. Everything around them is new and exciting.

Next time in class, take a moment to really appreciate how smart your professor is. Next time you’re out at night, tilt your head back and see how beautiful the night sky looks. The world is full of beautiful things, if only we’d pay attention.

Innocence

A word that has many meanings and connotations, but I use it in the simplest sense. Children are open fully to life, ready for anything. They haven’t been clouded by the hate, the insecurities, the fears, the racism and the xenophobia that plague our adult lives. When they pretend, they know it is only pretending.

Adults, instead, are pretending all the time and are rarely aware that it is just pretense. We need to push away the clouds and pretenses and be open to accept what the world has to offer.

Remember, above all, it is important to stay true to yourself. I believe in the importance of youthfulness in part because it is an integral part of my personality. If you consider yourself a more serious person, I’m not asking you to change, but just simply to consider how I experience life.

This all sounds well and good on paper, and I think I have offended few people up to this point. However, as a college community we do not hold youthfulness in high esteem; in fact, we look down upon it.

A person who spends a Friday night visiting his or her grandma or watching “Aladdin” is lame. A girl wearing a Cookie Monster shirt and pigtails gets strange looks as she walks down the sidewalk. A guy who expresses interest in class about something not on the test is a suck-up.

If you’re that person, good for you. Don’t stop just because it’s not regarded as cool. If you’re one of the people sighing because you wanted to get out of class early, relax. You’re paying to take that class. Listen up. You might learn something interesting. And maybe next time, you should ask a question.