Early Friday morning, UW freshman Chase Anderson died after he collided with the side of a Metro bus while skateboarding.

But that’s not the most important part of the story.

The 19-year-old truly loved life, according to family and friends.

We should, too.

As Shakespeare said, life is an uncertain voyage. As students, we think we’re invincible, that we’ll live forever and that nothing can harm us. We are, after all, just starting our own life voyages. We think we have a long way to go before we have to think about serious things.

We’re wrong.

Life is delicate, fragile and very precious. And short.

Anderson’s death should remind us of that.

He was just a kid. He could have been our little brother, or a classmate. You might have seen him going to or from a lecture.

He wasn’t afraid to live life to its fullest.

We shouldn’t be, either.

Of course, we’re all about “livin’ it up.” We work and party hard. But do we slow down and think about what really matters? When was the last time we told our families and friends we loved them? When’s the last time we stopped and thought about what we believe and why?

We shouldn’t wait. We should slow down now. And think.

As part of a letter written for a class on entrepreneurship, Anderson wrote:

“I know in my gut what feels right and what I would love to do, but I don’t yet know how it’s all going to come together, in what order, or in what fashion. But I do know that if I stick to my guns and keep striving for excellence, it will come.

What I want today, and what I want tomorrow, is truly mine to have as long as I believe it.”

We’re often too afraid to do what Anderson did: be bold and go for our dreams. But we should follow his example. We should live wisely, boldly and deeply.

Today.