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College Is About Finding Your Niche By Christopher Lee, Harvard
Yes, I go to Harvard. No, do I hesitate, then sheepishly say, "Harvard," nor do I play it down right after, and never do I reply that I go to "a school in Boston." It's Harvard, and you can choose to pronounce it and think of it as you wish. First impressions are everything, but trying to make a purposeful impression might ruin any impression altogether. Just last September, I remember surveying colleges I'd possibly apply to. As a high school senior, I got on mailing lists, sifted through admissions Web sites and figured out which ones would convinced me to apply. I was unsure about my chances, and though statistics and advice were plentiful, I would constantly size myself up to my peers at my school and older ones who got in and ones who didn't. Even after I received my rejection and acceptance letters in May, I was still unsure. Now I was sizing up one college against another and weighing their strengths, perks, reputations and opportunities. It was a continual state of uneasiness that I now realize was pointless. For those going through the process now, remember that no matter what you do, you will be no more, or less, of a human being. Success and happiness come in many forms, and college is a wonderful place to find it. I've visited and revisited many colleges, and I've realized that adolescents are generally the same everywhere around the country. You've got your bunch of people who really want to become rich, the bunch who want to do good for the world, the bunch who don't know just yet, the bunch who are athletes, studious, chill, artsy, interesting, and the bunch who you consider to be your own niche. This last place is most important because no matter where you apply to or get rejected or accepted, it is this niche that you will grow from. You are the one that decides what to include in this niche, opportunity-wise or friend-wise or anything-wise. This is the focus I've come to Harvard with. I rarely think about its reputation, the weight it has to its name because I'm here to enrich myself, make lasting friendships and grow as a person. I get thrilled thinking about the stuff I want to do in the college. An upperclassman told me that if you feel like you never have enough time in college, you're putting your college experience into good use. And once you shift your attention from commonplace college worries and refocus your perspective to your own passions and dreams, the lenses by which you see the world and your decisions becomes a lot clearer. Most of my high school friends who once fretted have a similar perspective, and it is a good one to have wherever you go. When asked, "How's college?" I reply like most college students, "College is awesome, and I love it."
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