From the moment you submit your application, every day the thought of being accepted into your dream school tumbles inside of your mind. Days when your peers are receiving their acceptance letters, the thought becomes more prominent. Then when your peers are receiving rejections, the thought of being rejected from your dream school clouds your whole brain and you constantly try to make a plan of your future without attending your top school and nothing seems to work.

I remember it like it was yesterday. I submitted my application for the Fashion Institute of Technology in October of 2016 and five, grueling months later, I received my acceptance letter. People were receiving their acceptance letters throughout the month of March even though FIT stated that decisions will start coming out on April 1st. Every day when there was no acceptance letter in my mailbox, I painfully started to accept the fact that I wouldn’t attend college at a school that I have wanted to go to since I was in the 7th grade. Toward the end of March, people in my school were receiving acceptance letters from FIT and I was more anxious than I have ever been. I made my mom sign me out of school early on March 24, 2016 and that was the day that I almost killed my mailman because of how fast I ran out of my house and toward him to grab the mail.

“Congratulations”

That word was printed in blue on a large, white envelope with my name and address on the top, left corner. Above my name and address was FIT’s logo as well as "Fashion Institute of Technology." Every emotion had come over me at that moment. Excitement, joy, happiness and most importantly, relief. I started crying as my mom and I danced around the kitchen with the envelope still in my hand.

After I finished my happy crying, the first words that came out of my mouth were, “I did it.” (Okay, the first words were actually, “Were sending in the deposit on Monday.”, but I am trying to be inspirational here.) But I did do it. I had worked so hard for this acceptance letter and the fact that I was physically holding it in my hands was like nothing I had ever experienced in my life. Now if you haven’t already figured, I am currently a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. Being in New York and being able to learn so many amazing things from intelligent, industry professionals is truly a gift and I am not taking it for granted.

So here is to the high school seniors who have and are going to receive their college acceptance letters. Whether it is your dream school or a safety school, take every acceptance with pride because you deserve it. You worked your ass off to get where you are right now. Every time you receive a physical letter or an email stating your acceptance, do a little happy dance and say to yourself, “I did it.” I am so happy for you and I, as well as your family, friends and many others are rooting for you every step of the way! Good luck and enjoy every second of it!