At this time last year, I was a high school senior who had no idea where I was going to college and was anxiously awaiting an update to a deferred decision as well as answers from my regular decision schools. I watched friends and classmates getting into their dream schools while I was stressed, confused, and concerned about the upcoming news that may ultimately alter the course of my life.

While I was trapped in the middle of this tumultuous time, I couldn't think rationally about the situation at hand. Sure, I outwardly said that I believed everything happens for a reason and I would end up where I was meant to be, but in my brain, I was terrified. I went to a fantastic New Jersey public high school where myself and the majority of my friends were overachievers. It was hard not to compare myself to them as they got into top-ranking schools. Of course, I wanted to be accepted to the schools I felt were best for me, but I also felt I had something to prove. I felt like my peers, their parents, and my teachers would make assumptions about me based on the college or university I ultimately chose.

Looking back on it now, I realize that no one cared where I went, as long as I was happy. The act of making a college decision is so personal and is based on so many different factors, nobody should judge you for your choice.

The thing about college decisions is that they are some of the most impersonal pieces of feedback you will ever receive. The individuals sitting in the admissions offices of colleges and universities are admitting, denying, or waitlisting you strictly based on how you appear on paper (unless you had an interview). They don't have the full scope of your personality, home life, or any essence of you as a person. I was always told not to take these decisions personally, but I couldn't help the hurt feeling that struck when I received a decision I wasn't expecting. Just remember that these people don't necessarily know the real you, so don't take denials to heart too much.

If you are currently a high school senior, it may feel at times as though the entire process is working against you, and you lose hope that you will ever be happy with your decisions.

My parting piece of advice to you is to keep an open mind regardless of the outcome of your applications. If you get into your dream school, congratulations! If not, that's okay too! Get excited about the acceptances you receive, and get ready to accept all the opportunities these schools can offer you. I know so many people that ended up at their second choice during application season but are now so in love with their new home they couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

As cheesy as it sounds, you are not defined by a decision letter. You should be proud of how far you've come and how much you have accomplished. You're only a senior once, so enjoy these last few months in high school with your friends and family because they fly by.