Applying to colleges is difficult and time consuming, but many students embrace hard work, especially when it comes to determining their futures. When I open my applications to get to work on them and see my progress, I feel excited and inspired but also slightly uncomfortable. Though I try my best to pour my heart into my essays, they don’t feel entirely genuine. Here’s why: I feel as if I’m fighting against my nature. There’s something inside of me whispering, “This feels wrong.”

I'm not scared to leave home or intimidated by a new place and new people. I feel prepared for challenging classes and tiny dorm rooms. However, every school wants to know why they should accept me and give me their scholarship money. What makes me outstanding, special, unique?

I've been brought up with adults stressing the beauty of modesty and humility. I was taught to never be boastful, to always be gracious and to give credit to others — my family, my friends, my teammates, God. I was taught to appreciate other’s accomplishments and express congratulations to them. But never was I taught to brag about myself.

I've joined many clubs and organizations that I’ve loved throughout high school which have helped build my resume. But when it came time to actually write in my own words about myself, about why these schools should accept me, I felt floored. It is deeply ingrained in me (and most other people I know) to never be self-centered or vain or to self-promote. I’ve stared at my bright computer screen pondering if I’ve shared so little that I won’t be taken seriously or if I’ve included so much that I’m teetering on boasting.

For my fellow seniors and anyone else struggling with this process, here is what works for me and may also help you: A bragging tone is not respectable, but what is respectable is conveying genuine pride in something you have accomplished. Colleges don’t want to see if you think you’re awesome; they want to see if you’ve really tried to make a difference in your school and community. If you’re proud of some accomplishment without being prideful, that will show through. Equally important is expressing a love for those activities in which you’ve been involved. If you write about something great you’ve done without any passion, colleges are less likely to be impressed with you. Colleges are looking to see if you will be a useful addition to their student body and an active student. If you show authentic love and interest for what you are involved in now, that enthusiasm will most likely carry over into college. It’s not so much about what you’ve done now, but what you will do once on their campus. The only predictor a university has of this are your high school experiences.

So go ahead, tell colleges with sincere enthusiasm about those things that make you happiest and that you want to continue pursuing similar interests after high school. Don’t think of it as bragging; think of it as giving the members of the admissions committee a glimpse of who you are, what you can offer their university and how their campus can help you reach your goals. And remember, these colleges are also competing for awesome you to choose them.