i want to be free and unapologetically myself
As I enter my senior year, the idealization of entering a prestigious university and the obsession with a low acceptance rate is overwhelming. Many idolize a person's stats, a perfect gpa, impactful extracurriculars, and a "narrative" surrounding the college applciation. however, this abundance of requirements is not what defines a person. Instead, it is their characteristics and how they grow through these experiences. I've heard relentless times about creating a nonprofit or passion project, but the truth is that there is an overpopulation of nonprofit organizations. I'm an officer of a NPO, yet the truth is that the reason I am in there is to become a better graphic designer while supporting their mission. Honestly, I do not resonate personally with their mission--it is a good one with most impactful events, but I'm an officer simply because I want to develop and use my graphic design skills to effectively market their events and mission. I don't consider this selfish--after all, your extracurriculars are based upon what you want to do, not what "IvyLeagueRoadmap" or whatever social media influencer believes looks prestigioius on a resume, but what truly resonates with your interest and long term goals.I get caught in the rat race of prestige--summer programs, stats, rec letters, etc-- but I truly believe that being authentically yourself will lead you to a university that fits your needs, if you are planning to attend college.On this note, I wish to be free and unapologetically myself through the admissions process. I don't want to wear the mask of a tightly packaged ivy league template,but be proud of the work I've done and enjoyed throughout highschool as an artist and a student. I find joy in creating Central Chronicles, designing posters and writing investigative articles on current events. I enjoy designing posters, logos, and enjoying quality time with friends and family. These are my motivators: friends, family, hobby,and potential community impact. As I move through to an end of my HS journey, I hope to discover more of myself through the activities I take part in. I want to continue playing volleyball, rollerblading, and maybe get into some sort of martial art.
To everyone who is worried about college admissions, I hope to reassure you that being authentic and making efforts to engage in activities you enjoy is the basis of the "extracurricular" section. With effort and ambition, there are people who will succeed regardless of how prestigious the university they end up is.