By Elizabeth Goldman
Editor-in-Chief
Not only is May 1 national college commitment day, featuring seniors making pro/con lists galore, running away from everyone’s opinions and frantically touring as many colleges as humanly possible, but May 1 also marks the start of everyone’s favorite annual event…AP exams.
However, as I reach the culmination of a solid 14 years of intense stress surrounding grades and college admissions, I’ve been reflecting on which assumptions were right, which were wrong, and what ultimately helped or harmed me.
I can say with certainty that stressing out about every A- or B+ did not serve me in any way. Hyperfocusing on the eternal question of “what if I don’t get into my dream school?” did not
benefit me. And guess what? I didn’t get in. But I am absolutely ecstatic about where I am going, and I genuinely would’ve been stoked to go to any of the places I got in, whether it had a 90% or a 10% acceptance rate. That being said, having a high goal was a significant motivating factor to push myself, and I am so glad I did. Just ensure that your goal doesn’t make you lose perspective.
The parts of my high school experience I value the most are the connections I’ve made with friends, other peers and teachers, the skills I’ve strengthened and the memories I will look back on fondly. I am proud of myself for embracing challenges and taking the classes I enjoy, even if it means I didn’t always get the grade I wanted. It is not worth making yourself miserable over a grade; do your best (within reason), and move on.
I know it is impossible not to stress about grades and college, especially during AP season, but to any non-seniors reading this, know it will all turn out okay. No matter what internal or external pressures you are facing, no matter what hand life deals you, no matter what grades you get, what extracurriculars you do, what colleges you get accepted into, it will all work out. It will get better than it is now. Then it will get worse, probably keep getting worse, then get better and then you’ll be done. So take a step back, enjoy the ride and appreciate high school for what it is. It’ll be over before you know it.
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