By Camden Crook, Staff Writer

The day has finally arrived. All day at school, news about college decisions has been spreading like wildfire. In the safety of your bedroom, you open your laptop, fingers shaking as you login to the college portal. A message appears; your application status has been updated. One click will confirm your fate. When you can’t stand the suspense any longer, you cover your eyes, hope for the best, and click. You slowly lift your eyelids, peer through unclenched fingers and feel your heart plummet into your stomach. 

Shock comes first, followed by disbelief. You can’t help but feel embarrassed. You contemplate keeping the news to yourself. You decide against it. After all, your friends and family know that decisions came out today and will be expecting an answer. The only thing you really can do is accept and move on. 

The most important thing to remember is that you are not a reflection of where you get into college. My parents have told me countless times that at their age, no one cares where you went to school. The important thing is getting a degree. Chances are, you’re going to get in somewhere. 

You’ll go off to college in the fall, meet new people and begin the rest of your life. In four years, you’ll graduate and search for your first job. You’ll be at the same starting point as everyone else, whether you attended COA or Stanford. 

The rejection may seem like the most important thing in the world right now. But the truth is, it will be minuscule in just five short months. In June, everyone will have plans for the fall. No one will care who got in where and who didn’t. You’ll realize how unimportant that one college rejection really was. In the meantime, keep your head up. Trust that your future will follow its course and don’t sweat the small stuff. You got this!

Senior Camden Crook can be reached at crookca0109@daretolearn.org.