I have noticed again this year the anxiety that comes about with the college process. From how will I find the time to do my application to will I get into my dream school these are very anxious times for seniors.
So my advice is to take the application process with a growth mindset. Enjoy the process and think about it as a way to reflect on your four years at the high school level. Some of this reflection will be of joy that you did well, other parts of the reflection will allow you to grow from maybe some of the mistakes that you made during the course of your high school career. Remember that is what high school is about a learning process that allows you to grow.
Secondly, we need to start asking ourselves more about our well-being than about our GPA. While people are worried about the application I wish they had the same concern about their own happiness. I truly believe that if you are happy you will be successful at any college that you attend. That the person is more important than the college. All colleges have students and professors, it is the job of each student to get the most out of the experience. I have heard students and parents tell me that this will define who they are for the rest of their life. I have trouble believing that. I look at people like Steve Bisciotti, Ravens owner, who went to a state school. He is definitely successful in the financial sense. I also realize that I do not even know the colleges most of my friends, or doctors attended.
The big questions we need to ask after our happiness is do you have a passion for something. If students have a passion they will be able to find success at any school that they are at. The technology that we now have allows people to find information easier and allow you to pursue your passion. Once you also find this passion it makes learning much more enjoyable and allows you to become much more gritty. Do you love learning? Again if the answer is yes, you will do great at any college that you attend. There are professors in all schools that want to nurture and help students learn.
In conclusion, realize you the individual is more important than the college you attend. Use the application process to grow so that you make the college experience better than your high school experience. Remember your well-being, curiosity and passion will allow your next four years to be great.
So can we be a little less anxious about the college process?
I feel that in addition to the process, the thought of going to college and undergoing that change causes a lot of stress too since you haven't changed schools since you were 13, will have all new teachers, all new people, and for some a new home. I commend you for being one of the few adults whose words help with the anxiety rather than increase it. I also agree that once you find your passion you really don't have as much to worry about because you'll be intrinsically motivated, happy, and will drive yourself into a fulfilled life. And like you said, when you're happy your brain works better. I see that in myself so much. So i love the vibe you're putting out, to just ease up, get it done, and stop stressing so much over it.
ReplyDeleteRuhley it is also important to know when you go to college you will not be the only one who is anxious. Sometimes people hide it better than others and we tend to think we do not belong. The truth is that it is normal for you to feel anxious and most people find there way. Thanks for taking the time to respond
ReplyDeleteThis really made me look differently at the college application process. Sometimes I think, in my experience at school, we as students are somehow 'taught' or just grow up with certain mindsets about certain colleges. Things like, if you don't go to an ivy league college you aren't that smart, if you go to UMD or Towson you are just going to a bigger Dulaney, if you go to an instate school you lose the college experience etc. I've felt judged a couple times when I tell my classmates I want to go to UMD because it's a 'boring' state school that is 'too close' and is just like 'a bigger Dulaney.' But I don't care because I love it and I'd love to go there. It's stressful to feel judged about your college decision and feel like you have to go to a certain college to be successful when, like you said, if we have passion we will find success. It's just nice and refreshing to hear your incite on this because right now this feels like the biggest decision of my life when really in maybe 10 years it won't matter as much. Like Ruhley said the vibe you are putting out is nice and it has helped lower my stress about the whole process.
ReplyDeleteI would like to add the last three years we have sent our valedictorian to Maryland twice and someone who was number three in our class. When I have had the chance to talk with these students they do not have any regrets and have really thrived at Maryland.
ReplyDeleteAgain, we all have different wants and needs. What I continue to emphasize is your own importance. Maryland will be very lucky to get a person of your quality