A light pierces through the darkness of the abyss; welcoming, comforting. It beckons you towards itself, its warmth mesmerizing, a promise of serenity forcing you out from the void. Your arms and legs, as though they were attached to the strings of a puppeteer, push towards that hope. Yet sometimes, when you burst into the brightness, only the ruins of your tranquil sanctuary remain.
Were this ‘Game of Thrones’ that description would perfectly describe the vacuum in which my life now resides. Imagine, just months ago, the stress of refining my English for the SAT, of memorizing complete books for the subject tests, and of sending my college application completely surrounded me. The unhealthy amount of caffeine consumption, haphazard routine and sleepless nights were all absolutely exhilarating. For those short months, I was superman! Invincible, able to see light in absolute darkness, and knowing that nothing could stop me.
The problem I now face is simple; “What do I do now that everything’s been done?”
Imagine waking up one day only to see everything you know crumble around you. The work ethic that developed after months of painstaking hard work: gone. Being a hero in your own action movie: gone. Even pursuing my high school studies seems redundant at this point, since I’ve covered the course multiple times for various tests.
So how ‘do’ I escape this limbo?
Well, first off, I turned to squash. Any form of physical exercise has been optimally designed to keep a person both physically and mentally healthy. It provides a great distraction from the recurrence of a daily routine. Not only that, but most physical exercises instill a ‘sportsman spirit’ that prepares one for potential losses in life. (This isn’t pessimism, right?) Best of all, your muscles begin to develop; get ready Arnold Schwarzenegger!
The next step is to get a social life. Don’t get me wrong, but most of us “nerdy” types get so involved with securing our future that we fail to see the appeal of engaging in groups and sticking our teeth out like walruses. Regardless, this is our last year of high school. I say again, this is THE last year! This is the year everyone dreams of; when they become prom kings and queens, get to the top of the social hierarchy, and maybe even make some lifelong friends.
From a scientific point of view, it’s all very simple. Take, for example, subject ‘Alpha’. The task is clear; walk up to the subject, use your awesome comedic skills, maybe get the subject some ice cream, and voila! You’re one step closer to being the cool guy or girl. That’s all good theoretically. However, in reality, as you walk up to the subject, a black cat suddenly strolls by. Suddenly, your shoe gets caught in a hook mysteriously protruding from the ground and a high pitched yelp escapes your lungs as the ground fast approaches. It never comes, though. The subject catches you mid-air. Congratulations Einstein! You’re down ten points.
Managing events, doing some community work, maybe even getting a pet are all great past times. But WAIT!
With all these activities, the most fundamental part of the college experience may be forgotten. Remember that nerdy little chap tirelessly working on his applications? That’s who the admissions officers expect to see walk down through the college’s halls. Most colleges practice clearly stating that the same level of commitment as your college applications should be evident on your senior year result. Overconfidence: that’s the enemy here. Even unconditional acceptances may be overturned. Imagine the disappointment in being closer to your dreams than ever, and falling short by a hair.
A logical conclusion has to be drawn. True, the adrenaline students feel while submitting their application carries over to the final year of high school. It makes socializing very appealing, which is fine to an extent. I guess what I’m trying to say is not to lose your identity, or change as an individual during those final months. Be the person with an intimidating work ethic, someone who is focused in life, is invincible, is strong, and determined.
Be the hero in your own blockbuster… Be that superman!