The moment you turn seventeen years old, you know you already have to start thinking about your future. Whether you’re a junior or senior in high school, there’s one thing that comes up in your thoughts at least twice a day for juniors, and ten times a day for seniors: college. SAT’s/ACT’s, applications, interviews, the whole shebang suddenly takes over most of your life. It certainly adds to the existing pressures from high school in general. Nowadays as a senior, a lot of people will casually ask me how I’m doing. And I’ll simply reply with an “I’m doing well.” But then I’ll suggest that they should check back any time after December for the more exciting response they’re used to getting. My life has become appointment-based.

When there are all of a sudden so many important things to simultaneously think about, it takes a while to adjust. This period of adjustment pretty much takes up the entire period of taking standardized tests, filling out applications, visiting colleges, and going on interviews. It’s an uncomfortable period of time because you’re once again facing a scary stage of growing up. Remember back in the day, when you went to the doctor’s for your first booster shot? How many times did you cry and beg your parents to take you back to your needle-free home? Or when you just got your braces on and you suddenly had to be more cautious about not getting anything stuck in them (like food or, if you had really long hair like me… I think you get the idea). The scariness of needles and awkwardness of wearing braces for the first time serve the same purpose as the pressures of applying to college. Situations like these prepare you for the most terrifying experience of all: facing the real world. Supposedly in the real world there are more needles, more awkward times, and even job application processes (which, apparently, are very similar to the college process). Now thinking about the many obstacles that will come in my future, all of this stuff with high school and college applications don’t seem as terrible. I’ll take people’s word for it that all of this work and change in moods will be worth it in the end. I’m not exactly sure how things will work out, but I highly suggest that you check back with me anytime after December. I’d be happy to tell you how things are.