<p>@otter101 Another newspaper person! I also head my high school’s paper! I submitted a journalism piece that I wrote as a reporter for the arts organization I’ve been most involved with during high school. (I covered their programs for their blog.)</p>
<p>@Karabekian I find your writing/physics combination fascinating. They’re such different disciplines, but somehow, they just make sense together. Having an art and science mindset must give you such an interesting perspective! I have read the poems! I love the way they shake my worldview. I love poetry and I occasionally write it, but I don’t think I’m too great at it, haha.</p>
<p>@frozens I’ve never read any of those, so thanks for the recommendations! This book is somewhere between children’s and MG, but I LOVE Tuck Everlasting. It’s so subtle and bittersweet, and I absolutely adore the characters. Yes, exactly! I always feel pain when I have to cut out a detail I love or that I feel is crucial to the novel for the sake of brevity.</p>
<p>@fairyfantasy I’ve never been on Quora before! Thanks for introducing me! Man, this thread is really expanding my mind and introducing me to so many cool new things.</p>
<p>@calliemoon11 it’s nice to hear positivity among harvard applicants haha cuz there’s always this stigma that all aspiring harvard kids hate their "competitors’ " guts</p>
<p>had my interview tonight… it seemed fine directly after, but now, oh my gosh 8-| im just thinking back and realizing how blech it went… i was so nervous and now that my mind’s cleared up, im realizing i slipped up so much with regards to my wordings, my ‘ums,’ … hopefully none of the details i said about me were messed up or wrong :(( urrghh im bad at explaining things too… maybe my interviewer got majorly confused when i mentioned certain things or combos of things…</p>
<p>He received an email and was asked to click a link which gave his official acceptance letter. It is not LL. I saw the letter and was very surprised. He has GPA 4.9 but only 33 on ACT.</p>
<p>@easycadence Don’t stress about it! I’m sure you did great. And no matter what, the subcommittees have most likely already reviewed your application, and this one tiny interview isn’t likely to significantly impact the opinion they’ve already formed of you. <em>hugs</em></p>
<p>How could this applicant have gotten an early acceptance letter 3 weeks premature without being an athlete and without having an interview, and with a 33? There has to be a story behind this one that we don’t know.</p>
<p>@efr009 What were his extracurriculars? Did he conduct PhD level research at MIT? Was he an international olympiad gold medalist? Start a multi-million dollar company? Anyways, congrats to him! </p>
<p>@calliemoon @frozens No problem! I’m glad you guys enjoyed it! </p>
<p>@Karabekian I think what you said about “find a job that you love and spend time with your family and remember to take breaks” is true. At the same time, in a deeper aspect, I believe “living in the present” also means appreciating everything happening right here and now and be thankful that you are breathing and living a human life that could lead to so many wonderful experiences. Of course, that is just my opinion. </p>
<p>I’ve been actually through a very traumatizing (to the point of almost breaking down) moment last Saturday when I thought about all the things happening in my life and the things (such as Harvard rejections) in the future that I can’t control. Also, I realized that humans, though sympathizing and generous in some instances, can only understand and focus on themselves the most in the end. That’s when I reached an epiphany that I should just live as myself the best way I can at the present moment instead of worrying about how others will see me or getting a rejection(which is pretty much out of my control at this point). Of course, that doesn’t mean life doesn’t need a little vague planning. Be flexible is the key. </p>
<p>@fairyfantasy I’m so sorry you went through that, but it is comforting for me to know that we’re all in this together. I’m going through almost exactly what you described right now, and I’m just coming out on the other side. It’s comforting to know that I’m not the only one. Along with exponentially increasing stress about EA, I’ve been feeling really down and saddened about humans and also kind of cynical, and though I can pinpoint some of the causes, I know that Early Action has really sparked and set off the stress and anxiety that I feel. It’s been a really difficult past few months, but college applications have been a true learning experience for me and have really made me grow. The process so far has made me more aware, more realistic, and and more mature. So no matter how difficult it is, I know that this isn’t ultimately about getting into a certain college, but about learning and growing, and transitioning to a different stage of my life. Fairyfantasy, those are really wise words! It reminds me of this passage from one of my favorite works of literature, Hamlet:</p>
<p>“We defy augury. There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ’tis not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it be not now, yet it will come—the readiness is all.”</p>
<p>@easycadence Thanks! So far that is still thoughts; the execution of those thoughts will be the most difficult part. And btw, I am a girl haha. </p>
<p>@calliemoon11 For some reason I started crying after reading your post, haha. I really should stop being so emotional nowadays. It’s a comfort for me to know that everyone is going through the same thing, too. I thought everyone on this thread had a hyped, hopeful, and confident aura. Thanks for the quote, too, we are actually reading Hamlet in AP Lit right now. I think one of the saddest thing I am feeling right now is that most people I know and most adults I know have lost that idealism and passion; they seem to feel there’s no chance for change now or are tired of their situation and are just getting by everyday like the walking dead. I wonder if society will change me into that state, too. I hope I can stay strong enough to avoid that. </p>
<p>(And I am sorry for my angst rant, too. lol)</p>
<p>@fairyfantasy We’re reading Hamlet in AP Lit right now, too! </p>
<p>Awww, I totally understand you about being really emotional nowadays. I’ve found myself wanting to cry over really minor things. And I understand you about your worldview, too. I’ve been through situations over the past half year that made me lose my faith in the goodness of people and in my ideal of a just world, and I feel like my metaphorical rose-colored glasses have been shattered. (Well, I definitely needed to shed my naiveté before coming into the world as an adult, so I think that may have been a good thing.) I’ve realized that a calculated, cynical, carefully measured attitude towards the world, which I’ve observed in a lot of people around me and previously disagreed, may be the best way not to get hurt. Yet, on the other hand, I can’t imagine not being able to love with my whole heart, devote myself fully to something. I feel kind of caught in between right now. I guess that’s what we call growing up. I’m interested to see what I will think when I look back on this period a few years later, and to observe what path I eventually took because of it.</p>
<p>In regard to another comment that you made, I really love the positivity on this thread despite such extraordinary pressure on all of us. You’re right, everyone seems so assured and confident. I guess we need to remember that we don’t have to be without doubts or anxieties to be confident–confidence stems from being able to acknowledge those doubts and anxieties, but despite them, to hope. :D</p>
<p>@calliemoon11 That last line was beautiful! </p>
<p>I may have a slight radical view : I still disagree with my parents and most other adults’ life view and believe their true selves were tainted by the evil ways of the restraining society. And society is definitely not something easily changeable and every change may even tip us over the balance. But for now, I think I will just try my best to stay as me and like you said, hope despite all doubts and anxieties. </p>
<p>@calliemoon11 @fairyfantasy I remember a question I encountered a while ago: “If you could get rid the world of ONE thing, what would it be?”
It really simplifies my distress with the dark side of the world… Not a sole human being is responsible for the whole world problem, don’t stress toward it. I sort of came to the (temporary?) conclusion that I should find the ugliest thing of all (hindering the most beautiful thing of all) and fight against it – the world has definitely brought me so much beauty and I think I couldn’t help it if it is destroyed…
Your words are all amazing, I just add this to get it a bit more emotional lol</p>
</p>
Of course, that is just my opinion. </p>
I’ve found myself wanting to cry over really minor things. And I understand you about your worldview, too. I’ve been through situations over the past half year that made me lose my faith in the goodness of people and in my ideal of a just world, and I feel like my metaphorical rose-colored glasses have been shattered. (Well, I definitely needed to shed my naiveté before coming into the world as an adult, so I think that may have been a good thing.) I’ve realized that a calculated, cynical, carefully measured attitude towards the world, which I’ve observed in a lot of people around me and previously disagreed, may be the best way not to get hurt. Yet, on the other hand, I can’t imagine not being able to love with my whole heart, devote myself fully to something. I feel kind of caught in between right now. I guess that’s what we call growing up. I’m interested to see what I will think when I look back on this period a few years later, and to observe what path I eventually took because of it.</p>