Personal Narrative: My Path To College

One moment you’re entering high school and in the blink of an eye it’s senior year. The thought of college is becoming more and more prevalent in your mind as each day passes. You’re forced to make so many decisions about your future, even though you still feel like a kid. The idea of the future can feel so daunting, so unmanageable. There are so many different paths to take, whether it’s the most common one, or an entirely different one. The hard decisions lay outside your comfort zone and require drive and knowledge to choose. You can choose to take the clear-cut path or venture out on your own. I know that my path is college. In college there are so many opportunities for me to take my own path and become my own person, without letting the politics of high school get in my way. High school was a rough time for me, as it can have too much focus on the social aspect of things, rather than staying

true to yourself. Some people will get out of high school and follow the “path most traveled” because of the stigmatisms surrounding that choice, along with pressure from friends and family. And it’s perfectly okay to go down this common path if that’s what truly works best for you. But too often, people are unable to succeed down this path because it was not the right choice for them. The thought of choosing another path was so daunting that they strayed from what they honestly knew they needed. They chose a certain college, a certain major, a certain lifestyle for the wrong reasons. I think that’s why high school has been so hard for me. It’s hard to see others fall short where they should succeed because they decided to choose the most popular or easy route. When I first began to see this happening, I vowed to not let it happen to me. I’ve always been very head-strong and determined to push my limits and do what is right for me - even when it may cause some discomfort.

Attending college is a goal I’m focused on achieving; not for anyone else but for myself.

There is so much to be offered at ________________ University for people like me, such as intramural soccer and basketball, environmental and study clubs, and the honors college. As I’m not sure what career I’d like to pursue for the rest of my life, I’m excited to be able to explore my options in college. I am both eager and nervous to start the next chapter of my life down the unique path of my own choice. I know that what lies ahead of me may be new and scary, but I also know that if I stay true to myself and go with what I feel is best, there will always be hope in the distance no matter what choices I make. I try not to get caught up looking ahead in my future, letting my doubts and worries get to me too much. I set my goals high because I will not let anything or anyone convince me that I’m not good enough, smart enough, or experienced enough to achieve what I want to accomplish. I am determined to carve the path to my future unapologetically, and let the rest fall into

place.