Ellie Keveny

Ellie Keveny - Class of 2020

I've always been told that I'm a very focused person and a slight perfectionist. I don't get distracted in class or while doing homework. I can sit down and do something without letting my surroundings faze me. I don't want an A on an assignment, I want an A+. I keep studying even after I know the material, and I always try to exceed expectations. I guess being a perfectionist and focused is a good thing because having these traits helps me feel prepared. I have a very good idea of what I want to do when I'm older, and I continue to work towards my goals. However, being so focused and being a perfectionist can also have its downfalls. Sometimes I get so focused on the future that I forget to live in the moment. Whenever I make a mistake, I become so focused on it that I sometimes cannot move past it. If I look at my grades and have anything less than an A, I become disappointed in myself. Focusing on the future so much and worrying about my grades and mistakes is draining. However, there are advantages to being a focused overachiever. This past summer I used these traits to start my own photography business. Photography has always been an outlet for me, and it is an activity that helps me, and probably many others feel more in the moment. I may not be there now, but I am learning to live in the moment. After all, the present is called the "present" for a reason.