Whether you’ve seen the book or the movie, you may remember that in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” Harry finds a mirror that reflects him and the thing he wants most in the world.
For me and lots of other TC seniors, that thing this year was getting into a “good college.” But what counts as a good college? Does your top choice reflect what you really want out of the next stage of your life?
Personally, I thought I was absolutely set on going out of state. Other students desperately wanted to get into the same school as their parents did, join the premed track, or receive a merit scholarship.
Regardless of the goal, lots of kids, especially me, believed that our idea was the only way to go. I thought that high school was supposed to be about figuring out what we were interested in, and college was a space where everyone worked on their more specialized path.
When I looked into my college mirror, I saw a big private school with the major I wanted to study, service clubs, lab opportunities, and a chance to see the world. In my mind, the only way to achieve that was by going out of state.
Six months later, my college mirror’s reflection has changed. I decided to stay in-state after all, and many of my friends’ desires changed along with me. Some people got into their dream schools (everyone loves UCI, apparently) but other people decided to major in a different subject, save money by starting with community college, or commit to a college they never expected. In the end, our current plans don’t reflect what we thought we wanted at all.
That was a long story, but I’ll keep the message short: even if you think you know what you want, keep your options open when it comes to future plans. Your priorities and circumstances can change a lot in a few months, especially in high school.
Regardless of what you choose, make sure your decision makes you happy. And seniors, be happy about your college decisions! No matter what, you’ve worked hard and you deserve all the success in the world. In my opinion, optimism and dedication will carry you further than any fancy school will.
TCHS School Newspaper