There is power in conversation: It has the incredible ability to break down borders, foster community and help individuals understand each other. On a more intrinsic level, however, conversation forms the foundation of how we see the world.

We have conversations fueled by the thoughts in our heads, by the authors we choose to read and by the lectures we sit through in classrooms. We use these conversations to guide us in the right direction and to engage in something greater than ourselves.

Therein lies the problem with how we consume media, talk to each other and engage with our classes in the modern day — those important conversations are beginning to disappear. We are losing sight of what life can give us because we refuse to stay fully present within the conversations that color it. 

The fact that our ability to pay attention has declined over the years isn’t much of a surprise. Gloria Mark, a researcher from UC Irvine, is a pioneer in the study of attention spans in the digital age. According to her research, our attention spans for time spent looking at screens has dwindled from two and a half minutes in 2004 to 47 seconds over the past two decades. 

Her research is indicative of a digital landscape in which many forms of media are competing for your attention constantly. Short-form content has defined an age in which scrolling mindlessly and quick bursts of dopamine replaces sustained focus for an extended period of time. 

At a school like USC, this effect is only amplified. 

“There’s a lot of distractions nowadays, especially at USC,” said Giulia Filippi, a freshman majoring in communication. “There’s always something going on that’s taking a little bit of your attention.”

More than 1,000 student organizations are tightly packed into USC’s combined 308 acres of space. This type of bustling campus culture makes it easy to split your attention in order to make the most of all the University has to offer. Attending a lecture can be done while applying for clubs on your laptop, and there’s no need to wrestle with difficult ideas when artificial intelligence can do it for you. 

It takes maturity to understand that there are only so many endeavors you can apply yourself to fully. Staying fully present is a habit that we think misaligns itself with how we divvy up our attention today just because we fear losing out on opportunities. 

We misconstrue sustained focus on a particular task as a waste of time, when the reality is that it provides us with clear benefits, even if those benefits aren’t immediately visible. Research shows that undivided attention not only aids in memory consolidation, but often also has intrinsic benefits people overlook.

For example, William James, a foundational figure in psychology and decorated Harvard professor, preaches the importance of undivided attention in any context on his website. To him, the ability to remain present is an indispensable skill that allows you command over your judgement, character and will. 

Being able to focus allows you to bask in the nuances of the situations you face and the emotions driving them. In this way, undivided attention lets you navigate adversity in your life as well as your own thoughts in a more impartial way. 

Above all else, focusing entirely on something allows you to embrace all it has to offer beyond surface-level observations. Fully engaging in classes, discussions and readings opens your eyes to opportunities and paths of thinking you might not have been exposed to otherwise. 

Upon reflecting on her very first acting class, Izzie Doogan, a freshman majoring in dramatic arts, realized that when she left, there was a stronger ensemble because everyone there was fully present. Doogan emphasized the importance that presence has — not just in class, but also in forming connections on campus. 

“When your attention is so divided, it’s hard to actually connect with people,” Doogan said.

And perhaps that is why it is so important to offer your undivided attention; not just because of the connections you form by being present, but also because of those you miss when your mind is elsewhere. 

So please, I implore you to give your undivided attention to the opportunities right in front of you, and not just to the ones you’re so worried you might miss. 

Take the time to struggle with ideas instead of taking a shortcut, whether that be in the classroom or in any of the clubs and organizations you apply yourself to. Consider what you tell your friends, and reflect on what it is that they tell you. Truly listening will get you farther with the endeavors and people you care about than any half-hearted conversation ever will.