Valuable Moment vs. Valuable Financial Worth by Lauren B.

In life there are a lot of things I value; many of those being worth money and others being priceless. Both of these things mean a lot to me but when it comes down to it is an object you bought at the store really more important then a special moment or memory? Although a 200 dollar lacrosse stick is great, is the time you spend with your team or the stick really more important? I feel as if today many people get their values confused. It’s easy to get caught up in materialist values rather then those unforgettable memories you’ll never be able to relive. You can buy a new object but you could never go back in time to feel the way you did at a previous time. I think it’s necessary to value each category but with limitations for each.

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I am in the middle of an intense basketball game standing alone at the foul line knowing that it is all up to me. I wipe sweat from my forehead and bounce my knees to get ready. Starting from the second I receive the ball from the official, my eyes remain glued on the target. I dribble the ball twice and spin it, doing the routine I’ve practiced many times before. The crowd silences and I can feel all eyes pinpointed on me. I bend down, spring up, and release the ball, remembering to keep my elbow in and follow through. The ball swooshes through the net not even touching the rim. The crowd cheers and the pressure on you is released. I feel as though I have not let my team down. I am proud of my hand eye coordination and the hard work of practicing has finally paid off. The satisfaction of making foul shots is something I thoroughly enjoy.

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A materialist item that I couldn’t go a day without is my cell phone. When I am not in school, I am texting on my cell phone every second. My phone is practically molded into my hand and I just wouldn’t feel right without it. My fingers automatically know what buttons to press without even looking because I text message so much. Texting on my cell phone is a huge way that I communicate with others. If I just have a simple question to ask someone, it’s a lot easier to text them rather than call them. I’m lucky that I have unlimited text messaging or my mom would be paying millions of dollars on our phone bill every month. I also call people all the time on my phone. If I need a ride home, I have my phone to call my mom. It would be really hard to go out without my phone because I would end up getting stranded or not having a ride back. Not only do I depend on my cell phone for a call for transportation or a way to chat with my friends, but it is necessary to “fit in” in this day and age. Basically everyone has a cell phone. While we try to convince our parents that we need one for emergency situations, we all know that they are mostly used to show off and compare to our friends. The electronic device is becoming a necessity for daily life. I don’t go one day without looking at my phone. I play my newly bought ring tones over and over again until the repetitive lyrics and sounds are permanently stuck in my head. I feel as if my cell phone is something I could not go without. The small silver and blue advanced piece of technology has worked its way into a huge part of my life and I feel as though I value it very much.

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As you can tell, I value both the fulfillment of making foul shots in a basketball game and my cell phone, greatly. The satisfaction of sinking foul shots raises my self esteem and makes me proud and happy. My cell phone makes me feel more comfortable knowing that in under a minute I could have someone to talk to me and be there for me if I needed something. Both my phone and making foul shots are things I enjoy and wouldn’t want to live my life without. Although one is something you could put a price tag on and the other you couldn’t, they both mean a lot to me. Without either of the two, my life would be extremely different and definitely not as good, but I believe a priceless moment is more valuable to me. While I could always buy another cell phone, I am never able to get a second chance at a foul shot in a certain game. These two values make me more than content with my life and are truly valuable to me.