📝 Dear Rising Seniors: It’s Time to Own Your Story

You made it. Senior year is on the horizon.

Right now, you’re probably hearing a lot of buzzwords: Common App, supplemental essays, test scores, personal statement. Maybe you’re excited. Maybe you’re stressed. Maybe you’re wondering how you’re supposed to write about yourself when you still feel like you’re figuring out who you are.

That’s okay. 👌

The truth is, no one has it all figured out. But what sets strong college applicants apart isn’t having the “perfect” resume—it’s knowing how to tell their story with honesty, clarity, and heart.

And that’s something you can start doing now.

---

🪞 Step 1: Get to Know Yourself

Before you write essays or pick schools, take a step back. You’ve lived 17 or 18 years of life—what have you learned?

Ask yourself:

• What experiences have shaped me the most?

• What challenges have I faced, and how did I respond?

• When do I feel most alive or most like myself?

• What do I care about—deeply?

You don’t need a grand achievement to write a strong application. You just need reflection. A quiet conversation with yourself can be more valuable than hours spent Googling “how to get into ___ University.”

---

📖 Step 2: Start Thinking in Stories, Not Just Stats

Admissions officers don’t just want to know what you did. They want to know why it mattered.

Instead of saying, “I volunteered at a hospital,” think about the story behind it:

• What drew you to it?

• What surprised you?

• How did it change you?

Here’s a secret: the most memorable essays often come from small, personal moments. A late-night talk with a sibling. A failed audition. A conversation that stuck with you. Those are the moments that reveal your character—and that’s what colleges want to see.

---

Step 3: Summer Moves That Pay Off

You don’t have to finish everything this summer, but if you take a few small steps now, your future self will thank you.

☀️ Summer Checklist:

• Make a résumé or brag sheet. It helps with applications and letters of rec.

• Brainstorm personal statement ideas—just jot notes, no pressure to write yet.

• Research 3–5 colleges. Look past rankings—what actually excites you?

• Draft a calendar with deadlines (apps, FAFSA, scholarships, etc.)

• Ask 1–2 teachers if they’d be open to writing a recommendation this fall.

---

✍️ Step 4: When You Start Writing …

Keep these tips in mind:

• Be real, not impressive. Vulnerability is more powerful than perfection.

• Details matter. “I stayed up late crying” says more than “I was upset.”

• Show, don’t tell. Instead of “I’m a leader,” describe the moment you led.

• Read it aloud. If it doesn’t sound like you, revise until it does.

This isn’t an English essay. This is your chance to be known.

---

College apps aren’t just about getting into a school. They’re about getting to know you. What you value. What you’ve learned. What you hope to become.

So don’t stress if you don’t have a dream school or a 10-year plan. Don’t compare your story to someone else’s. Just start with where you are—and own it.

Because the best applications? They aren’t built on trophies. They’re built on truth.

You’ve got a story. Tell it well. 💪