The fine art of patience
When I work with students in the Fall as they complete applications and revise essays, they get this look in their eyes like, “Is this EVER going to be over?!?” That’s my cue to reassure them that they are, indeed, going to be able to hit “submit” very soon.
There’s no doubt that the Fall application sprint is grueling. Organized students seem to fare a bit better. Having made a personal “To Do” list, they are able to see clear progress as they check things off as done. The experience for students who find organization to be just one more chore to be avoided, can be quite different. Progress for them isn’t always quite as easily seen, resulting in what may seem like a never ending slog to the finish line.
Either way, they usually manage to get things done only to find themselves in what I call “admissions limbo” – a place where all you can do is wait. There’s no essay to write, no recommendation to get, not even a parent hovering in the hopes of providing a subliminal prod toward the goal.
While this can be a tough place for a student to be, in many ways I think it’s one of the most important parts of the process to do well. This is a great opportunity to take a good look at what you’ve just accomplished. You have managed to more or less balance schoolwork, friends, family, and a highly challenging experience called apply to college. That’s an accomplishment you should be proud of – and one you should always try to remember. Take some time to really appreciate what you’ve done. While you’re at it, take some time to appreciate everyone who helped you do it.
While you wait for the mail to arrive announcing your acceptances, there is something else that deserves your attention – your last months of high school. It goes without saying that you must keep your grades up, but there is another task to be done as well – preparing to say good-bye.
Whether you have loved or hated high school, it is about to come to an end. Many people you have seen every day will slip out of your life. Your relationships with friends will change because you will change. It’s not something to dread, it’s just something to be aware of as you finish out the year; because the most important thing you need to do right now is to savor the time you have with your friends. Enjoy them, be kind to them. While you’re at it, try to be kind to everyone. Use this time of waiting to leave a legacy you can be proud of.
