College: From Rocket Science to Reality

As a child and a young teenager, I had always imagined college applications to be as complicated as rocket science. I was one of those kids who believed the process was impossible to understand and that only adults somehow knew how it all worked. If I were to describe myself at that age, I would say that I was a student who scored below average and had low confidence in myself. The teachers thought of me as dumb and as someone who could not manage things. This pushed the idea that college applications, exams, and interviews were not something I would be able to manage. When I was only in 10th grade, I remember my mom worrying about how the college application process worked. Watching her panic only made the entire idea of applications and admissions seem even more stressful. To make matters worse, I did not even know what I was interested in, let alone which colleges or courses I should apply to.

Over time, I started exploring different subjects and career paths, which would, in turn, help me gain clarity about the universities that I should apply to. As I gained more clarity about the colleges, I finally began the application process. This is when my real challenge came. I had decided to do the entire college application process all by myself, as my parents lacked an understanding of how the process worked, and I did not want them to worry about it. I used my own understanding, along with the help of YouTube videos and friends, to go through the application process. Doing the first application was slightly difficult, but after completing a few, it felt easy and almost effortless. Here is when the second problem came: I did not want to apply to only 2 or 3 universities but to 15 universities. Every university had its own deadlines, application portals, scholarship requirements, and admission criteria. I found myself constantly researching universities, comparing courses, attending webinars, speaking to current students, and trying to understand which environment would suit me best. There were moments when I felt excited about new opportunities, but there were also mental and time constraints.

Now that this phase is over, I realised that I had already overcome the process that I had dreaded for many months. Looking back, I realise that the college application process taught me far more than how to get into a university. It taught me to be independent, organised, and patient. I learned how to make important decisions despite uncertainty and how to trust my own judgment. Although the process was stressful and filled with moments of anxiety, fear of rejection, and stress, it transformed something I once considered "rocket science" into an experience that helped me grow into a more confident and capable person.

Now I question myself, wondering how I could have seen such a simple process as so complicated and difficult. However, this process was not something that I could take the entire credit for. The guidance of my friends, teachers, and parents was essential. The final decisions and efforts were mine, no doubt, but regardless, they helped make me the person that I am today.