Hi!
I’m firstborn I’m my family, and my parents are both extremely accomplished. I’ve gotten very nice grades and some awards, and I’m generally happy with where I’m at as a junior. However, my mom really likes to talk about everything I’ve done and sometimes exaggerates how exceptional it was (for example–I was invited to try out for a national martial arts team, and she made it sound like I was going to the Olympics…?). Anyways, everyone that talks to her or my dad assume that I’ll get into an amazing university–some of her coworkers told me I should go to Harvard or Stanford. I’m applying to colleges soon, and I’m more terrified of disappointing all of these people, including my parents, than I am about disappointing myself. There’s so much pressure already, not to mention that top schools accept such limited numbers that it’s more or less a lottery, and now my parents have made it so everyone I know expects for me to go to an Ivy. I don’t know what to do other than pray that I get in…but then again, what happens when I don’t? How do I handle it?
Thanks for your input!!