My heart pounded with excitement as I approached the starting line. I felt the pre-race butterflies I'd grown accustomed to in my stomach. I cleared my mind, assumed a four-point stance, and prepared for the sprint.
Bang! The starting pistol sounded. It was over almost as quickly as it began. Sweating and struggling to catch my breath, I looked up at the time board and grinned. I had finally broken my personal record in the 200-meter dash.
I didn't know it at the time, but that race taught me everything I needed to know about surviving college applications.
Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Runners
When I first joined the Bethel High School track team, I was overwhelmed by how much faster my teammates were. It felt demoralizing. But I learned quickly: comparing yourself to others is the fastest way to slow yourself down.
The same is true in college applications. Someone else's GPA, their SAT score, their extracurriculars — none of that matters. You are competing against yourself. The only question is: are you a better version of you than you were last year?
Physical Training Has a Mental Twin
Reaching my goal time meant getting stronger physically AND mentally. I trained vigorously in practice and worked on my technique. But I also had to conquer the voice inside my head that said I couldn't do it.
"I forced myself to believe that I could do anything and focused on the task in front of me."
College applications are the same. You can have all the credentials in the world, but if you don't believe you belong in that room, it'll show in your essays, your interviews, and your attitude.
Time Management Is a Competitive Sport
Balancing track practice, meets, and a rigorous academic schedule forced me to get organized. I became a better planner. I prioritized ruthlessly. I stopped letting things fall through the cracks.
That's a skill that will serve you in college more than almost anything else you learn in class.
Unity Makes You Faster
I enjoyed having fun with my teammates as we pushed each other to get better. There's something powerful about being surrounded by people who want to see you succeed — not because it costs them nothing, but because they understand that your win is their win too.
Find your people in college. Form study groups. Cheer each other on. The students who thrive aren't always the most talented — they're the ones who build the best teams around them.