It’s the second semester of senior year, and the time all seniors have been nervously anticipating has arrived: college decision season.

Some have been nervously awaiting it, while others have been excited for the next chapter, regardless of where it is. There’s no one “right” way to feel throughout this big time, and there are bound to be big feelings – and that’s okay.

Over the course of the last four years, we have been incredibly hard at work in the hopes that it’ll all pay off in the next stage of life, where we’ll be spending another four years. But it doesn’t have to define who we are as people.

I think sometimes we forget that we are more than our college decisions, and I’m here to remind you that regardless of where you spend the next four years, you’re enough.

According to the Mood & Anxiety Center, 76% of high school seniors feel as though college decision season is a life-defining moment. That’s a lot of students just like you and me who feel overwhelmed by this moment – you’re not alone.

I felt impatient after submitting applications for decisions to be released, and yet the closer the decision date approached, the more apprehensive I felt. The thought of the last four years not paying off because I didn’t get into my dream school felt daunting. But, ultimately, I knew I had done everything I could have – and now, it was out of my hands.

But, to the underclassmen, I hope this isn’t the lens through which you’ll look at college decision season. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a scary time, and you care a lot; don’t ever stop caring. However, this doesn’t define you or your self-worth, and those are the things that matter most.

Even after decisions have been released, peer pressure can make personal celebrations turn lopsided. Hearing about the schools that classmates and friends have gotten into can make your achievements seem small.

But in reality, it’s all about perception. The schools that you got into resolutely believe that you belong in their school, and you will succeed there. If you ask me, that’s a cause for celebration.

Prestige isn’t life. We always try to set our aspirations high so that there is something we are always working towards. But, even without graduating from a fancy college, education remains the same. Our education is about the strongest tool we will ever attain, and it’s important to take advantage of it.

I know the second semester of senior year is a stressful time. I’m living through it right now. College decision season was a heavily emotional time. Finding balance through it all has been one of the most difficult and yet impactful things at a time like this.

Knowing how heavily weekdays are affected by school and college research, I made sure to prioritize time for myself on the weekends. I’d dance in the morning on Saturdays and sing on Sundays. The rest of my time over the weekend was spent creating precious memories with family and friends when I wasn’t studying for exams.

Honestly, I have no regrets about the time away from my laptop, and I recommend you do the same. Taking even a minute to step away from the highly emotional, maybe even stressful environment to unwind, rant and refresh can give you the strength to finish the school year strong.

So, to the underclassmen, if there’s one thing I hope you’ll take away from this, it’s that regardless of how heavy the weight of college decisions lies, who you are as a person will always be the same, and nothing can take that away from you.

To my seniors, we did it! This wasn’t an easy time to say the least, and I know I’m still reeling from the adrenaline rush of it all.

Nonetheless, we made it this far, so let’s finish off strong – together – one last time.