I have a bit of an unorthodox approach to New Year’s resolutions. It’s not that I don’t see the appeal of setting January 1st as the first day of holding yourself to whatever overzealous goals you’ve set for the year, but are you really setting yourself up for success? Do you really feel prepared to be your best self the morning after a late night where you have most likely overindulged in the cheese platter? I look at the entire month of January as a time to develop and ease into my resolutions (as evidenced by this late-January post).
For the remainder of the month, I challenge all students awaiting their application decision from Notre Dame to try out the following three resolutions. It might just make the wait until early April more bearable!
1. Stop comparing yourself to Early Action applicants.
It’s easy to get sucked up in the numbers game between yourself and accepted, deferred, or rejected Early Action applicants. But here’s the thing—the actual numbers you can compare (GPA, SAT, ACT, etc.) are only a part of the application decision. There’s no way to quantify the value of different talents and skills (leadership, kazoo playing, water polo, a velvety baritone voice, what have you) that every applicant brings to the table. The moral of the story is that constantly comparing yourself to everyone else is both fruitless and stressful.
2. Keep an open mind about your college choices.
Whether you’ve applied to Notre Dame because it’s your dream school or because it’s your parents' dream school for you, keep your mind open to unexpected opportunities. Realize that you’re going to be okay no matter what decision comes in your envelope. Your college doesn’t define you; you define your college.
3. Relax and enjoy senior year, but don’t stop working hard!
You’ve accomplished a lot in your four years of high school, and you deserve to acknowledge and celebrate that. Enjoy seeing your friends every day, be grateful to your teachers for all they’ve given you, and treasure your time as a leader of your school. That being said, don’t mail it in! Finish senior year with the same pride and effort you put in at the beginning of freshman year.