“It is human nature to get attached to people and things.”
Eva, a curious and passionate thinker, believes it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
“If you don’t love, you’re probably a psychopath,” she puts it plainly. She explains that it’s better to love because that is how we form meaningful connections with other people, and it’s these relationships that transform us into who we become. Without love, we wouldn’t exist in the way we do or be where we are in life.
She envisions a society without love—how such a society would be a stark contrast to what we know today. “Caring for each other and loving each other is a fundamental part of being human.” And thus, a fundamental part of our world.
“Basically, without love, are we even human?” Eva asks.
In her journey of bringing joy to those she loves, she strives to be an optimist. To her, it doesn’t make sense to be pessimistic: “You spend more time hating everyone and everything around you rather than enjoying the little things that can make you happy.”
It’s difficult to see the best in everyone all the time, and sometimes life itself poses a great challenge too. Still, Eva retains a positive outlook: “Saying everything will work out the way it’s supposed to is powerful.” She elaborates by saying that sometimes things will happen the way they are going to happen regardless, and perhaps it’s meant to be that way.
“Trying to control everything at once will just lead to more chaos,” she adds. Some things just aren’t meant to be within our control.
In life, Eva’s goal is to help others and be a positive influence on everyone she meets. Even her college major reflects the impact she hopes to leave on the world before she dies; the reason she’s studying international relations is to attain a career where she can make a positive and tangible difference in people’s lives. Moreover, she hopes to create a ripple effect by imparting this same drive to make positive change in others.
“Positive change could be solving a global crisis,” she admits. “But it could also be as simple as making sure people have a good quality of life.”
When it comes to her own experiences, Eva’s happiest moments are those that remind her of the magnitude of life’s possibilities. Last year, she took a spontaneous trip to Florence with her parents upon finishing the last of her high school AP exams. Her mom had to work for most of the trip, often attending meetings. As such, Eva had opportunity to explore the city on her own.
“One night, when my parents went out to dinner, I was left by myself to do whatever I wanted to. I found a bakery where I bought some freshly baked Focaccia for dinner, and after a bit more exploring, I found myself near our hotel again. Across the river from where we were staying there was the best gelato place in all of Florence. There, I bought myself a hazelnut and chocolate mousse gelato. I then walked to the river and sat on the bridge, eating my ice cream and watching the sunset.”
Eva says she isn’t entirely sure why this particular moment of sitting on the wall strikes her as her happiest time. She thinks it’s mostly because the memory makes her excited for the future and everything around her.
“It was a time where I felt anything was possible.”
About Eva
Curious, over-thinker, passionate, nature loving, logical, traveler, team player
Between the Lines 