college-application

Snowflakes gently coat the outside world in soft white, making everything look pristine, almost like a fresh chapter about to begin. Meter by meter, the train steadily inches closer towards Oslo, cutting through the winter wonderland that temporarily cloaks our everyday realities. Despite the coldness of the -1°C temperature outside, a warm optimism bubbles within me as I settle into my journey. Every day on this commute has proved an opportunity to express my thoughts and observations, and today is no different. This morning, I delve into a process we all face at some stage in our lives – applying for college!

It’s a daunting process, isn’t it? Yet, it is also a phase that promises new beginnings. The college application process is akin to stepping onto a new train just like the one I'm commuting on, leading us to a new chapter in life. Even as the frost gently graces the outside world, symbolizing the end of a cycle, spring waits in anticipation, heralding new opportunities.

The application process might seem like a monumental task with each aspect – from choosing a college, deciding a course, filling in the forms, to crossing our fingers as we await the admission decision. But let me assure you, though it can feel overwhelming, it is also an exciting period filled with endless possibilities!

Pondering on this, a recent news article comes to mind. No, it was a heartbreaking tale, yes, but one that made me appreciate the privilege and opportunity we have to gain an education. It offered a different perspective. While we may fret over application forms and essays, worry about missing deadlines, or stress over the potential outcomes, we should embrace this process for what it truly signifies: hope and potential.

Just as each snowflake is unique and beautiful combining to form a beautiful winter landscape, each of us brings something individual and important to the table. This college application process is just a way of telling your story, of setting you apart, of starting your journey to self-discovery and growth.

What a joy it is to have the opportunity for an education, to be able to aspire and manifest success, isn't it? So, let’s embrace this application process, let's conquer it together! Let’s turn any fears into optimism. Because just as sure as spring follows winter, the anticipation of new beginnings and brighter tomorrows always follows the trials of today.

So, my fellow aspiring students, prepare your personal essays, ready your recommendation references, polish those portfolios, and send them on with a hopeful heart. Because this journey is not just about getting into the best college, it’s about understanding who you are and where you want to be. So, even if the journey seems long and daunting, remember, the spring of hope always follows the winter of hardship.

Looking out of the train window, I see the whitened tree boughs, heavy with snow, standing tall and strong against the harshest weather. And just like them, we draw strength from the most challenging times. With hearts full of hope, let's navigate this college application journey. And remember, like the resilient Norwegian spruce, let's stand tall against any challenge that comes our way.

In this world of endless possibility and hope, let's dare to dream!

Tags: college application personal growth optimism

Wrapped in my coats and scarves, peering outside my foggy train window into the gust of snowflakes, I am reminded once again of my beloved home and its temperamental winter season. It is a frosty 3 degrees Celsius outside, the world blanketed in white purity, a stark contrast to the turmoil within my heart. I sip on my lukewarm coffee, its steam disappearing into the frigid air, as I meander onto the topic that's been feeding my anxiety for weeks now - the dreaded college application process.

Like the biting winter winds whittling away at the mountainside, the process too, chips away at your resolve, at your dreams, and your hopes. This college journey that promises enlightenment and better prospects is paved with dead ends - essays, letters of recommendations, scholarships, tests and the inescapable prospect of rejection.

As the train jostles over the frozen tracks towards bustling Oslo, I can't help but reflect on the parallels between the process and the unexpected tragedies of life. Life-altering situations do not ask for appointments, they occur unpredictably, just like the dreadful news I read this morning.

A residential building in Høyanger fell prey to an aggressive blaze. Two of my fellow countrymen have been rushed to the hospital, their lungs battling the silent attack from smoke inhalation. As relief forces converge on the scene like ants to a feast, ten souls find themselves without a roof over their heads, their lives tossed into uncertainty. A stark reminder that amidst our daily struggles, life persists in its relentless unpredictability, one that feels particularly resonant as I navigate my path through the labyrinth of college admissions.

Reality is a relentless tide, and within its ebbs and flows, we are caught, with dreams of higher education in one hand and the sobering realisation of life’s uncertainties in the other. It's a strange polarity, chasing a future while hinged on the precipice of an ever-changing present.

As the train pulls into Oslo, I tuck away my laptop, the unfinished college application form staring back at me. Today I've written less about it, and more about the hidden depth of the process, a realisation etched deep in the crevices of my subconsciousness.

In pledging our future to the templates of applications and becoming mere numbers in the sea of applicants, we are persistently sidestepping the melting pot of life. Lost in the chase, we sideline what is happening around us, forgetting that our dreams and ambitions, while significant, are but fragments of the larger life canvas.

Tags: college application life reflections unexpected events