<p>I'm sitting in my Government class bored out of my mind so I figured I'd type this up. The anticipation, while I've kept it in check for the past month or so, has gotten the better of me and 5 PM on Friday, December 13th keeps creeping into my head. Actually, no, it isn't creeping. It's launching an assault on my mind and I'm constantly thinking of The Decision. </p>
<p>I can remember so vividly when I first started looking into colleges. It was May of my sophomore year, and with my PLAN test results in hand, and a relatively high projected ACT score, I embarked on a hunt to find what colleges interested me. I'd always been interested in the best; no matter what it is, I want the best version of it, and that's often inspired within me a strong work ethic. So naturally I gravitated towards Harvard and I learned just how difficult Ivy League admissions are. I remember listening to the song "Perfector" by My Epic on repeat while searching through the College Confidential forums, educating myself on every aspect of the college admissions process. Even now, when I listen to the song, it brings me back to the eager anticipation of summer that's so common in May and the eager anticipation I had towards my eventual college applications. Falling in love with Harvard was, at first, a bit shallow for me. I was in love with the idea of Harvard, especially after seeing The Social Network. It seemed like a place of endless opportunity, almost magical, and I wanted to be there more than anything. Visiting Harvard confirmed my ideas. I really did fall in love with Harvard and Cambridge as soon as I stepped foot on campus. The masses of people and the constant rush of activity overloaded my senses and I knew, with a sense of euphoria, this is where I wanted to be for four years.</p>
<p>October was a stressful time, and I did indeed put off my Harvard application until really late (I wrote my optional, 950 word essay in one sitting, although I think it's some of the best writing I've ever done), but the wait is finally coming to an end. And I'll know if it was worth it or not. Because in many ways, this decision will come to define my high school career. I've always worked hard with one goal in mind, and for nearly 2 years that goal has been Harvard. So an acceptance would confirm the late nights of studying, the lack of sleep, the stress, and make it all worthwhile, while a rejection will inevitably bring me to question just why I've worked so hard for three and a half years. That's not even to say that a rejection will crush me; I'll be disappointed, but I think I'd be okay. Even though I basically just said that this decision will be the summation of all my high school work, I'm constantly at odds with myself when trying to determine just what this decision will mean to me. In the end, I think I'll be okay, no matter what happens. And I think that's why I'm writing this; to let the other stressed-out-of-their-mind high school seniors know they're not alone, that everyone who has probably ever applied to Harvard has at one time or another treated the decision as if it were life or death. </p>
<p>But the beauty of it all? It's not. No matter what those emails say on Friday, we'll all still wake up on Saturday morning and go about our lives. We'll all still go to school on Monday and worry about our exams, look forward to Christmas break, and laugh with our friends. Don't let Harvard define who YOU are. I fear that I've been thinking with that mindset all too often lately. And if I get rejected, then the work I did in high school may not be validated, but why does it have to be? I'm better because of my hard work. And so are you. </p>
<p>So keep your heads up, fellow applicants. The end of the road is near (except for those damn deferrals...). No matter what decision we get, we poured our heart and soul into our applications, our extracurriculars, our essays, and into the past three and a half years of our lives. And we're better off because of it. </p>
<p>Good luck, ladies and gentlemen. Stay gold.</p>
As a fellow SCEA applicant, I extend my best wishes to everyone else here! Good luck to you all!</p>