There’s a certain weight that comes with senior year, almost a pressure that this year must be nothing short of perfect. Every moment feels like it’s leading up to the pinnacle of our high school experience, and we strive to make it both memorable and successful.

However, in mid-December, my vision of a perfect senior year was shattered. The deferral of my early decision application to my dream school, Cornell University, hit me hard and brought with it a flood of disappointment and uncertainty. After spending so much time envisioning myself at Cornell, I felt lost about what the future held. Yet, I reminded myself that a deferral wasn’t a final rejection and I still had a chance to make my dream a reality.

I tried shifting my focus to my second choice, Carnegie Mellon, my early decision two. Unfortunately, I was faced with a harsher blow: a flat-out rejection. Despite this, I clung to the hope that I still had one more chance to get into Cornell during the regular decision round. But when the time came, I was met with rejection once again. While both schools are incredibly competitive, and I knew even qualified students were rejected, no consolation from myself, family or friends was enough to not make me feel like a complete disappointment. All the hard work I had put in the past four years and even before that felt unvalidated and meaningless in the face of rejection.

During the aftermath, I got an email from Ohio State University, a school that I got accepted to in December, stating that I received a full-ride scholarship. This unexpected opportunity wasn’t just a scholarship; it was a redirection and a sign pointing me to where I should be. Throughout this rollercoaster that was my college admissions experience, I learned a lot of things.

The universe has a plan for you. You’ll end up where you need to be.
Don’t compare yourself to the people around you, because everyone is on their own journey.
Sometimes, the best opportunities come in unexpected forms.
Keep faith in yourself, and remember that your worth is not defined by any single outcome.

At the end of the day, it is up to us to make the most of our college experience. Even though I’m not ending up where I thought I would, I’m appreciative and optimistic about this next chapter of my life.