Finding Balance in the Mayhem

If I had to describe the college application process in one word, it would honestly be constant: constant essays, constant edits, constant refreshing of portals and reloading of Common App (and reading over your submission for the tenth time to make sure you didn't do anything wrong). But it’s also constant growth. You end up learning so much about yourself: what you care about, what excites you, and what you’re hoping to find in the next chapter of your life. Yes, it feels like there’s always something to do, another supplement to finish or email to send, but at the same time, you begin to learn more about yourself along this college application journey.

Balancing everything has definitely been a challenge. Between school, extracurriculars, and trying to meet all the random deadlines (because every college seems to have its own system), I’ve learned to live by my calendar and to-do lists but also to let myself step away when I need to. Sometimes that means going to dance class and not thinking about anything else for a few hours, or grabbing Dunkin’ with a friend after a long day. It’s the small breaks that are truly needed.

I won’t lie, it is stressful, but there's also something weirdly fun about it. You get to tell your story in your own voice. You get to reflect on moments that once felt small but ended up shaping you in some way. You'll have those moments where you feel proud, like when you reread an essay and think, Wow, this is kinda good. That’s when you realize all the chaos and late nights were actually worth it.

If you’re not a senior yet, my advice is simple: take it one step at a time. Don’t compare your timeline to anyone else’s, and don’t forget to be present in your senior year. Everything will work out and you WILL get everything done. My biggest advice is to enjoy your time now while you can.