July fourth, 2018, standing at the White River Museum, Therese Layacan was looking at an old image as an elderly lady came to stand next to her.

In the museum, a picture caught the eye of Layacan and a woman. To illustrate, the woman was petite with white hair and around sixty years old. In front of them was a black and white picture, with a Japanese family on a farm. Layacan described the family as having a content look.

“The picture I was looking at was more than a scene that could be recreated in a movie for cinematic pleasure.” Layacan said, “It was a snapshot of a time with people. People who had stories completely different from mine.”

The woman started to tell Layacan stories about when she had lived at that time. Layacan said that the woman spoke with such wisdom that it made her interested to listen to her.

“And what she said, look, I can't remember exactly what she said.” Layacan said, “But I could at the time. I really could tell you what she was saying. Like, word for word.”

However, Layacan is regretful that she forgot to ask the woman’s name. On the contrary, she did ask her if it was weird seeing Auburn turn into what it is today.

“She looked at me and said that watching it go from large agriculture to large building was definitely a change.” Layacan said, “It was in a very positive way, though.”

Through the woman's description of her life Layacan put herself into another person’s life and experiences.

“This short and sweet experience taught me that right now isn't the only ‘now’ to have ever happened.” Layacan said, “This woman was complete living proof of that.”

Afterward, when it was time to restart school, Layacan had a different mindset than before. This time she felt more know knowledgeable and excited to live life at full.

“When school started like I wasn't necessarily the most excited to go back to school but at the same time I knew I have to,” Layacan said, “This was all that was happening it was either school or literally do nothing.”

Even though, Layacan said she is too young to know if this moment defined her life the most, she can say it changed her life.

“But currently I’m too focused on my ‘now’,” Layacan said, “To worry about when mine, for certain will be.”