What I wish I knew in 12th grade—

Don't base your decision on prestige, keep your mind open, and relax

Hey y'all--

When I was applying to colleges, I just about drove myself crazy second-guessing where I wanted to go. Even though just about everyone told me to just relax, I had a really hard time listening. So here's what I know now that I wish I knew then:

First of all, don't base your whole decision on the "prestige" of an institution. I felt like I had to apply to a bunch of schools I didn't really want to go to just because of their reputations. I knew I didn't want to go there, but I wasted a lot of time and energy worrying about it, because I felt like my hard work in high school needed to be validated by acceptance at particular schools. Your hard work in high school will be validated by your ability to recognize what is right for YOU, not what was right for Edgar Allen Poe, Henry David Thoreau, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Sandra Day O'Connor, or Elizabeth Dole, or whoever else a school's list of distinguished alumni may boast.

Next, know that at a school like Carolina, there is truly something for everyone. Your undergraduate years are a chance to try out anything that strikes your fancy. Don't pinhole yourself into anything yet. Keep your mind and your options open in both the application and enrollment processes.

Finally, RELAX and enjoy your senior year, because it really is a great time. Take advantage of every opportunity you have to spend time with your friends and promote what has really made you happy during high school. What you do your senior year is often what people remember you for after graduation. Leave the legacy you deserve. And have fun.

P.S.--Go Heels!