Some Self-Reflection for a Second Semester Senior

Despite being in AP Lit and not AP Lang, I've written more in the past four months than I've ever written in my life. That comes to no one's surprise, though. It was college application season! Yes, I wouldn't call it exactly enjoyable, but, in retrospect, I look at this experience with excitement.

Let me say, I used to fear essays. I feared writing. I feared racking through my mind to describe thoughts with words that didn't quite suffice. Just the thought of a paper planted a pit of dread in my stomach. But thanks to this blog, I've found my voice and inevitably developed it as I shared about myself with colleges that don't even know my face. I've channeled my genuine sentiments and expressed them through the nuances of each word, something I couldn't do just five months ago.

With prompts dumbfounding me, I was forced to scrutinize my personality and conjure a character for myself. And to my surprise, I got creative. I stretched trivial traits into a point of self-analysis and I found themes. Both obvious and not, key personality traits include these:

1. I really like tennis!

2. I care about the environment!

3. I'm... a gorilla? of some sorts?

Although at times this process was painful and seemingly unfairly advantageous to humanities-minded students, I believe this process to be a period of self-reflection, growth, and, of course, a way to show your true self to institutions that'll become your home for the next four years.

In the next four months before we ~graduate~ I'm hoping to remain newfound voice and thought process as I write. Of course with prompts not asking about me, I still plan on incorporating my personal perspective. And while some things may not seem the most enthusing to learn, who knows, maybe I'll add another trait to my personality.

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