As the fall semester settles in, high school seniors find themselves navigating one of the most important passages of their life: the college application process. Personal statements are finalized, future dreams are put into words, and extracurricular activities are neatly arranged to make them stand out from the thousands of other applicants competing for the same goal. While for some, the journey is daunting and stressful, there are many who also feel a sense of excitement, as they balance their academics, life, and the task of presenting their best self to the admissions committees.
For most seniors, pressure is unavoidable. This is particularly true for Trevor Nelson, a current senior at Huron.
“My stress level for writing college applications fluctuates between a solid five and seven. At times, I feel really good about my application,” Nelson said. “However, I also get stressed because I’ve worked hard throughout high school and I really want to see it pay off.”
Nelson shares the sentiment many seniors feel and experience as they reflect on the years and efforts they’ve invested throughout their academics and extracurricular activities. Nelson, playing for Huron’s varsity tennis team, shares another added challenge and the importance of early preparation:
“I knew over the summer that my time to work on college applications during the school year would be significantly limited,” Nelson said. “I pushed myself to write my essays before the tennis season and was successfully able to finish five major essays before the school year.”
Once school started, Nelson began having to take time away from his sleep schedule to work on his college applications, much to his parents’ dismay. Despite this, his strategic planning has helped him significantly with staying on top of deadlines.
A further aspect seniors take into account for their college applications are dream schools– the school that one would want to attend the most, enough to make an early decision for. But, not every student has one. Katherine Ma, another senior at Huron, offers a refreshing perspective:
“I don’t really have a dream school. I believe that whatever school I end up in, I’ll be able to find opportunities to learn and grow,” Ma said.
Her strong mindset reminds us that success and personal enjoyment can be found at any college, not just a “perfect” school.
The college application process, though daunting and filled with stress and uncertainty, also offers opportunities of reflection and growth. For Huron’s seniors, they, as well as the rest of us, hope to celebrate their achievements and accomplishments no matter what path they may go. As they envision the next chapter of their lives, they face the final stretch of their high school career with determination, hope and the sure certainty that they have put in the hard work to shape their future.
