It's officially college application season, and I don't think anything could have fully prepared me for it.
People always say senior fall is stressful, but living through it feels like running a marathon while trying to balance classes, extracurriculars, deadlines, and whatever sleep you can manage to get in between.
Between writing essays, filling out applications, and keeping up with schoolwork, it has been a lot. There are nights when I stare at my laptop for far too long, wondering whether the paragraph I just wrote genuinely captures who I am or if it's just another collection of words. Some days, it feels like my entire future depends on how well I can explain a defining moment from high school in just 250 words.
As overwhelming as the process can be, though, it has also given me something unexpected: perspective.
"College applications are often reduced to GPAs, test scores, and acceptance rates. But behind every application is a person trying to communicate years of growth, failure, resilience, and curiosity through a handful of essays."
For years, I've poured countless hours into studying, conducting research, leading organizations, and pursuing opportunities that genuinely mattered to me. During the day, I was focused on building experiences. Now, I'm finally taking the time to reflect on what those experiences actually meant.
That has been one of the most rewarding parts of this process.
Writing mine has forced me to revisit moments I hadn't thought about in years and recognize how much they've shaped the person I've become.
Looking back, I hardly recognize the timid freshman who was too nervous to ask a teacher to regrade a test she knew had been scored incorrectly. Somewhere between late-night study sessions, leadership roles, research projects, setbacks, and countless moments of self-doubt, I became someone much more confident—not because everything suddenly became easy, but because I learned to keep moving forward even when it wasn't.
There's something both intimidating and exciting about putting your story into the hands of complete strangers. Admissions officers will read thousands of essays this year, and like every other applicant, I hope mine helps them understand not just what I've accomplished, but who I am beyond my résumé.
No matter where I end up next year, I'm proud of how far I've come. Applying to college has reminded me that growth isn't measured solely by acceptance letters or rankings. It's reflected in the person you've become along the way.
So yes, this process is stressful. It's exhausting, unpredictable, and occasionally overwhelming. But it's also an opportunity to pause, reflect, and appreciate everything that has led to this point.
And for that, I'm grateful.
I'll continue sharing updates as this journey unfolds—hopefully with a little more sleep and a little less overthinking than I've had so far.
Sara Kansal
Student contributor at Matrix Square Education
