You are finally done. Fresh out of high school with your diploma in hand, you are heading off to college.

You have been accepted, went through all of the paper work, have met your new roommate and even have a mini-fridge for your dorm room. Everything is set and in place.

But that was not the case a few months ago.

A few months ago you were narrowing down the list of colleges from the thousands to about five to eight, visiting colleges and universities searching for and hoping to find that perfect fit, filling out personal biographies and stuffing your entire soul into an essay about two pages long and you were ready to pull all of your hair out from the stress of it all.

The list of the college application process goes on for miles and miles.

And then, for a brief period of time, life is good again. No stress, no college frenzy, because now all you can do is wait.

And like all good things, this block of stress-free bliss comes to an end. The colleges have decided and the students have been chosen. And now, the letters are on their way.

The letters that say, “Yes, we think you and the University of Way Too Much Money are a perfect fit. Soul mates even. And now please cough up your money if you have chosen us to help mold your young mind and pretend to prepare you for the real world outside of academics.”

(Because all letters from colleges have to express how big of a decision choosing a college is and remind you every chance they get that your life will change forever from this decision.)

Or the dreaded “No, I’m sorry. You are probably a wonderful person, but we just don’t want you. Never bother us again” letter.

Either way, the letters you receive will bring joy or sorrow at first, but sooner or later stress will come barreling headfirst back into your life.

Now you have to re-visit those colleges that accepted you. Now you have to make the big decision on which college to attend for the next four years of your life. Now you have to get scholarship and financial aid information for that school.

So after you make The Biggest Decision of your young life ... Now what?

You decided on a college, your payment plans are settled and you do not have to choose your courses until the fall.

For now, life is calm. Seniors can finally rela-WAIT!

Did you buy your cap and gown? Did you take all of the courses required to graduate? Is there an obligation from freshman year that has been growing and growing, waiting for you to finally pay it off?

Senior year so far sounds like a stress-crazed, no fun year, doesn’t it? But that is not everything that makes up your last year of high school.

As a senior you have superlatives in the yearbook, vote on the prom theme and be on or vote for the homecoming and prom courts.

So back to graduation day, you are looking back at your high school career. Reflecting on your senior year, what will you remember? Having fun with your friends, partying and an easy course load? Or the anxiety and stress you experienced because of applying to college?