I never imagined myself in my senior year applying to colleges; it always seemed like that time would be centuries away. Neither of my parents went to any big colleges, so I never had the drive to follow in their footsteps. All I knew is that one day I would go to college somewhere to continue my education.

After a rough freshman year of high school, I thought my grades would never improve. But with my mother’s encouragement and with my rising grades, I was motivated to do better. I have come a long way since freshman year—bringing up my grades, receiving scholarships, and focusing more on my schoolwork. It’s amazing how far you can come with a little self-motivation.

So far I’ve submitted applications to three colleges. Applying for college is more time-consuming than I thought: filling out some online applications took more than an hour. That didn’t include sending transcripts or any other paperwork. In fact, I was completely stressed out with certain application deadlines. But once you get the hang of it, it’s not so bad.

You can ask for help from your guidance staff; that’s why they are there, so don’t be shy. It’s important to receive all the information you need as soon as possible. The process was well worth it; this weekend I got my first college acceptance letter to Florida Atlantic University! It was so exciting to read the word “Congratulations!”

I’ve found that it’s a good idea to apply to more than one school, especially if the school you want to go to is competitive. It’s also good to weigh your options, because if you don’t get into one school, you have others to consider. It’s frustrating if you don’t get into the school of your choice, but you can’t let it beat you up. Just know you are not a failure; the fact that you have made it this far shows what a success you are, no matter what school you do or don’t get into. That’s why it is good to apply to more than one school. More schools, more options. And always remember that you may be able to transfer after a few years to another college.

One final thing to consider when applying for college is how you’ll make the final decision. Don’t choose a college because your friends are going there. Don’t overlook a college because it’s too far from a boyfriend or a girlfriend. This is the time to go wherever possible. It’s your experience, it’s your future, and it’s where you will learn new and exciting things that will help you grow. If you have choices, don’t let anything hold you back.