It’s that time of year again, when anxious-looking seniors line the halls of the counselor’s office and suffer through mini panic attacks on a daily basis. Yes, I’m talking about college app season.

I’m sure many of you seniors can relate exactly to how I’m feeling at the moment—STRESSED. If someone merely mentions the word “college,” I start to cringe at the thought of all I have left to do. It doesn’t help that so many recent news events relate to college and university—whether it’s Gov. Jerry Brown’s new bill for a community college bachelor’s degree program, the new free-tuition policies at German universities or something else relevant.

Everything seems to remind me that I should be focusing on applications and personal statements. The tasks of writing a 500-something-word essay to describe myself perfectly and completing a resume that makes me seem extraordinary are incredibly daunting.

However, what I simply can’t seem to wrap my head around is the fact that I’m actually old enough to be applying for college. The last few years in high school flew by, and I certainly do not think I’ve been here long enough to already be preparing to leave. For me, one of the most nerve-racking aspects of the so-called college app season is accepting that this moment marks the beginning of a new chapter in life.

Perhaps the later we get into the school year and the harder senioritis hits me, I’ll come to terms with starting anew. For now, I just want to be survive application season.

Sincerely,

Samiha Ali