Letter to Self: College Letters

Dear about-to-receive-college-decisions Diane,

This month and the upcoming few are probably some of the most important in your life thus far--you'll be finding out where you might spend the next 4 years of your life, where you might meet the friends you'll have for the rest of your life, and where you'll be able to take classes you want to take and learn about all the things you're so interested in.

You will get rejected from some. You'll get the email from Stanford, for instance, and maybe you'll cry. You know you'll be fine, but a small part of you considers it to be a rejection of you, or a piece of you.

Some rejections will be okay; some will make you sad for a few days. But remember that there is absolutely nothing more you could have done--okay, maybe you could have stayed up all night studying sophomore year. But would you really trade in everything you've enjoyed non-academically in high school for straight As every year?

Remember who you are. Take a few moments to arrogantly recall what you like and respect about yourself. You've written probably over 10 songs in the past 4 years (and an endless amount of poems), you've pushed yourself to do things you never thought you would do, you've become fluent in Spanish and started the trilingual journey of French, you've helped countless people at Sunday Friends and other organizations--and you didn't do it just to be able to list it on your apps--, you've managed to get good grades while almost always being happy, you've furthered yourself in every artistic area, you've learned self-respect and respect for others, and you know exactly what you stand for--and hold true to that.

So even though your oft-concealed ego is the one writing this to you, reminding you of only some of your accomplishments, which, in your mind, translates to bragging, it's true. You are a great person, and any college should be lucky to have you.

So congratulations! You got into _____________. Be sure to thank your parents for everything they've done for you--in the college process and throughout your life. You truly are, though not biologically, a product of who they are. And remember, regardless of which college you go to, you are literally one of the luckiest people in the world. Two of the coolest, wisest, funniest, and most caring people in the world are your parents, and most--not all--of this can be attributed to them.

Sincerely,
The rational, open-minded, boastful, and currently-blind-to-the-results side of your personality