We were told that senior year would be easy, fun, and a year to remember. Since I entered high school, all of those older than me have told me senior year would be the “best” of the four. They said it would be filled with good memories of hanging out with friends, enjoying my last homecoming, having senior nights, doing senior activities, and going to prom. So far I have enjoyed my senior nights and hanging out with friends. However, that is not all my class and I have experienced thus far. The trials and tribulations and stresses of being a senior weren’t expressed with justice.
Our counselors said that the month of October would be stressful because that is when our college application process would be at its thickest, but they didn’t tell us how bad it would really be. College application season as an athlete wasn’t an experience for the weak. Between trying to write personal statements and supplemental essays, staying on top of homework, and commitments to sports there was no room to slack or breath. There was always something to worry about and nights were long. The mental gymnastics of attempting to condense the depth of your character in a 600 word essay was a challenge. Having to balance preparing for the future and the demands of a sport stretched some of my peers and I thin.
After feeling defeated, the feeling of helplessness crept up on us. One would think that the hard part would be over after all of the college and scholarship applications were submitted, but that’s when the hard part began. Waiting to see what our next four years will consist of is stressful, but all we can do is wait. The colleges we have been looking forward to going to for most of high school, take their precious time in letting us know if we are welcomed into their family of students. It is nerve-wracking not knowing if all of the work and time we put into our applications and resume was worth it and good enough. However, we won’t be waiting forever, everyday we get closer to knowing what is in store for us.
Finally, some of the waits are coming to an end. Early action and early decision admissions are coming out. We are finally finding out what our post-secondary options look like. I can say it is a relief when you get accepted to one of your top choices for college. It feels like a weight being lifted, despite there still being some uncertainties. Senior year is a rollercoaster with all of the unknowns, anticipation, stress, and excitement it brings and it’s getting close to the end. Many of us are ready for it to be over, but still are not ready to let go of our adolescence. Senior year is definitely a bumpy ride, but we should soak up all of the good and not so good it has to offer while we still can.
