A Demanding Process

There is an underlying pressure to succeed that is present even for myself as a sophomore in high school. The pressure especially applies when thinking about College admissions, which is scary because it seems the results determine the trajectory of the rest of one’s life. Finding the perfect path is undeniably frightening, and there is no sure way to change that. Stress is inevitable in such a rigorous process, but perhaps that stress can be managed in a healthy way.

I had a discussion with my sister, Mariana Posada, about this very issue. She is now a junior in college, and a few years ago, she went through the admissions process at Friends Academy. Though the guidance she received from the college office was helpful and reassuring, she claims that since “millions of people are doing the exact same thing,” the process felt “competitive” in a time when stress was at an all time high. That stress was not something that could be easily fixed, either, and students are having to tackle similar experiences today. 

How to Manage the Stress of Admissions

Community is a matter of great importance at Friends Academy; it guides students to confide in trusted peers and adults in order to build relationships and make connections. These norms especially matter during the college admissions period. As previously mentioned, my sister felt as though there was extra pressure, since it was practically a competition; but perhaps that isn’t a terrible thing. Realizing that everybody is in the same boat takes away a bit of the stress. Therefore, community is more important than ever as many are feeling the same emotions. We do not need to be alone during difficult journeys.