Just about any college student can relate to the unprecedented stress high school seniors are currently experiencing.
After completing an anxiety-filled year of taking the SAT and ACT, many incoming seniors are eager to start their last year of high school, expecting their year to be a breeze.
A common misconception with senior year of high school is that the year is filled with fun and relaxation due to the stress-free energy after committing to college.
Many seniors believe they will spend their year having senioritis, also known as the unmotivated and lazy attitude many seniors tend to adopt.
Nonetheless, many people neglect the stressful period of time that occurs during first semester: applying to college.
Spending hours working on Common App supplements, perfecting your resume and picking out the perfect list of schools is more than enough to make seniors feel like they are juniors all over again.
Aside from applying to colleges, the unavoidable anxiety associated with hearing back from top choices and deciding where to go usually get through the heads of many seniors.
Many seniors may ask themselves when the fun begins and the stress ends.
Technically, the stress never really ends, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
Take it from someone who was that anxious senior who feared they would end up at the wrong college: it gets better if you have the right attitude.
In reality, people will never live a completely stress-free life.
There will always be something in people’s lives which will stress them out, whether it’s a test, friends or a new experience.
The important lesson to take away is, regardless of what is stressing you out, you should focus on controlling your stress rather than your stress controlling you.
While applying to college can be one of the most stressful times of high school for a student, many feelings of anxiety associated with this process are out of our control.
At the end of the day, a student will never know the real reason why a university accepted, deferred or rejected them.
It is important to put consistent effort into writing your essay and organizing your applications.
However, it is unnecessary to drive yourself crazy by acting as a perfectionist with college applications.
Many students feel as though they have to be this perfect and unique candidate in order to impress colleges, but it is more important to show who you truly are rather than just doing certain activities for your resume.
It took me a while to learn this, but balancing my time evenly between school stress and enjoying myself senior year is what made my year so special.
There are so many different events and “lasts” to enjoy throughout senior year, I refused to let any stress take away from the excitement.
There were times where I was overwhelmed with joy when I got into a school I could picture myself at.
Moreover, there were also times when I was upset I didn’t get into schools I had hoped to.
Looking back now, there are times I stressed out so much I currently can’t even remember why.
I was so fixated on whatever was currently taking over my mind I forgot to look at the bigger picture.
Not everything always worked out the way I had envisioned in my head, but I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.
One time when I was feeling mentally drained from the anxiety of waiting to hear back from certain schools, a friend sent me a quote saying, “Nothing that is worthwhile is ever easy.”
To this day, I always keep that quote in the back of my head, and I would recommend any senior who is going through this crazy process to do the same.
I would recommend keeping in mind this current obstacle is a vital part of your journey, and anyone can get through it with a calm and collective mindset.
So if you’re reading this and currently feel like it doesn’t seem like it will get any better soon, take a step back and devote more time to living your senior year to the fullest.
Enjoy your last year with the people you have known your whole life, and cherish both the good and the bad moments that have led you up to the next chapter of your life.