Football is Life

Lately, my life feels like a checklist that never ends — essays, transcripts, recommendation letters, supplements, deadlines. Preparing and applying for college has been one of the most stressful things I’ve ever done. Everyone talks about the excitement of this next chapter, but not enough about how overwhelming it can feel to prove yourself on paper.

There are days when I question if I’ve done enough — enough volunteering, enough leadership, enough anything. It’s easy to get caught comparing myself to others, especially when everyone seems to be chasing the same few dream schools.

What’s been helping me is learning to pause. Sometimes that means stepping away from my laptop and going for a walk, or talking to a friend who’s going through the same process. I’ve started setting smaller goals instead of staring at the entire application at once — one essay, one edit, one submission at a time.

I’ve also realized that my worth isn’t tied to an acceptance letter. No matter where I end up, I’ll still be the same person who worked hard, cared deeply, and grew through the process. The stress is real, but so is the strength I’ve found in handling it.