The start of my senior year has been memorable. Events including, the first day of school senior traditions, football games, senior roller skating, and even the start of the basketball season have contributed to all my fun experiences. But along with all these exciting experiences, I found the beginning of my senior year to be very stressful as well. The major contributing factor to this stress has been college applications and everything that comes along with it. Although that may sound cliche, I find it to be the truth even though my situation has been a little different. I committed to further my education and athletic career at Pomona College on the eighth of October. This meant that I didn’t have to submit many applications but I did worry about the possibility of not being accepted by admission at Pomona. Also, deciding to commit to Pomona was extremely difficult because I had some great opportunities at other schools and didn’t want to disappoint anyone. In the end, I made the decision that I thought fit me best. 

Although some people may say I have it easy with my situation, I would say this process was the exact opposite of easy. At the beginning of the school year, I had to have some really tough calls with various basketball coaches. During these conversations, I explained why I would not be choosing to attend their college and play for their teams. I had built strong relationships with many of these coaches since I had been talking with them for a long time (mostly since the beginning of my junior year).  I wanted to be able to tell them all good news but unfortunately, it just doesn’t work that way. I know I am extremely lucky to have been able to even be in this situation and because of this I have learned so much about myself. 

Something you all may not know about me is that I have a very hard time making decisions. So, as you can imagine, making a decision about where I would spend my next four years was the hardest decision I have ever had to make in all 18 years of my life. I knew I would have to change something about my decision-making process in order to do so.  I learned that if I  discuss my thoughts with people I trust prior to making any decision it becomes a lot easier. In the past, I would have kept my thoughts to myself. But, the most challenging part of this realization was learning to avoid peer pressure and guilt. I used to make decisions based on what other people thought and now I am trying my best to make decisions based on what is best for me. 

I hope to continue to strengthen my independent thinking and continue to practice making self-directed decisions everywhere I go especially during the second semester. I have heard from many seniors in the past that they become “done” with school in the second semester because they already know where they are going to college. I hope not to lose sight of my academic drive and continue to make decisions for myself. 

Something I am most proud of myself for learning this semester is that my classes don’t necessarily define me. For so many years I have pressured myself to do well in class but I have realized that is not necessarily what I should be striving for. Instead, my goal should always be to do my personal best. That is what I have focused on this semester and I feel as though I have enjoyed this semester so much more than others despite its challenges.  I hope to continue to do this second semester as well. 

For all the Juniors this year, I would like to them that although school may seem like everything, it doesn’t define who you are as a person. The college admissions process may seem to be the most important thing at first, but in the end, the most important things in life have nothing to do with college. My biggest suggestion to juniors right now is to continue to do the things you enjoy and don’t lose sight of these things during the beginning of your senior year although it may be tempting to.