I don’t know who needs to hear this, but that thing you’ve been wanting to do? Just go for it.

Learn to play another instrument, try a new track event, enroll in a dance class, start a scrapbook. I have so many “want-to-do’s” in my life but the greatest barrier to starting them is that “it’s too late.”

I think, oh it’s too late to finally learn saxophone; I’m not even continuing music in college. It’s too late to try out pole vault senior year; everyone will be better than you.

It’s too late to join dance; you’ll be the oldest in the class. That’s what always went through my mind when I wanted to start something new. It took me till senior year to realize the only time it is too late is when you keep pushing it back.

If you start NOW, it’s never too late. One of my biggest regrets dates back to fifth grade. I remember I really, really wanted to join dance. My mom encouraged me to do it, but I kept saying, “no, I’m too old.”

Looking back now at 10-year-old me, I just want to shake her and say, “it’s NOT too late.”

I always wished that I had just mustered the confidence and went for it, even if I was the oldest in the class.

In most cases, people aren’t even paying attention to you — they’re all focused on their own worries.

I don’t know what clicked in my head this senior year, but I realized I shouldn’t be delaying what I want to do based on outside barriers.

Since freshman year, I always had the wish to try pole vault but didn’t due to my own worries.

This year I said to myself, “When else will you have the opportunity to try this so freely?” And so I went for it and it’s been a blast.

What I want to share with others is that it doesn’t matter if you can’t be the best in the group. Try your best for yourself and celebrate your own personal records.

Now, for those worried about the thing you want to do not working out, DON’T WORRY. Just go for it.

You never know until you try. If you start a new sport and your body says no, or time actually doesn’t allow for a new activity, or you ask your band director to borrow a saxophone and she says no (like me), AT LEAST YOU TRIED.

I believe every “no” can be a win too. You fiddled around and found out. What if you never went for it? You would regret that a lot. So just start now.

Don’t push things back just because you feel like you can’t do it. Tell yourself that what you’re worried about doesn’t matter.

What matters is you will regret not doing it later on. It only becomes too late when you keep delaying it!

High school is one of the best times to try things out. There’s so many opportunities open for us — clubs, extra-curriculars, camps, classes, shadowing opportunities — and they’re all a LOT more relaxed than what you’ll get in college.

So start now! Try things out and find if you like them. Don’t wait for the last moment like me in my senior year. Just go for it.