The voice of high school seniors everywhere is the same. It is the end of the first semester and the deadline dates are coming from every direction. Yes, our counselors, coaches, and parents tried their best to prepare us for this natural, but early graying dose of stress, but it simply is not enough. Time managed to thrust itself into our lives before we were ready. It was just August. Take a moment to remember the first days of this school year. Smooth sailing and happy faces. Everyone was elated that our senior year was finally here. It was a time to think of friends, homecoming, our senior trip, prom, and finally graduation. Then our smiles got shorter and our "candyland" style dreams took a major raincheck. In a premeditated, unwanted blow our 12th grade high, time decided to cast us into the hands of college. The clock struck December and I have not looked back since. Sooner than we know, it will be time to choose which school we are actually going to attend. This is yet another long grueling process. Not to mention most of us must wait in agonizing terror and and anxiety until April, when our dream institutions tell us either: "Yes please come to our school, you are very welcome and we would be honored to have you!! or I am sorry Mr. X your academic coursework does not reflect what our institution is currently seeking. So what about us? We have pimpled our skin, pulled out our hair, and practically shed tears with nothing but a case of Mountain Dew and a towering pile of daunting college applications. We have written the essays, once twice and a third time. We have mailed the transcripts, payed the fees, and requested the reccomendation letters. What more can time do to us? Perhaps the better suited question is what more can college do to us? We have not even begun that journey and it is beating us down already. We are stressed, we are exhausted, and we are waiting. But seniors we are almost done. We have made it this far and we are going to keep pushing. Take a breath, and at least make an attempt to tell yourself: I am OK, because you are. We are in this together. Remember, "To whom much is given much is required" and class of 2008 we have a lot coming! So Keep your head up!!!