It's an annual ritual: Each September, at the dawn of the new school year, rising high school seniors gear up for one of the most fun but also most stressful years of their high school careers. Amidst the seniors' palpable excitement about "ruling the school" exists the stress about the daunting process that is all-too-familiar to many, the college application process. Trust me, seniors, I was in your shoes at this time last year and I was not happy about it (if you're anything like me, you fear change and try to avoid important responsibilities for as long as possible until you are forced to take action...yeah don't do that). Listen, I am not your mom, and I know you're probably sick of nodding your head at all the generic advice tossed your way, but hear me out. I really want to be 100 percent real with you, whoever you are, because I wish I had been given this type of genuine guidance when I was entering the hectic college process. Yeah, I was terrified, but look where I am now! I'm thriving here at school, and if you listen to my advice hopefully you will be too! ;) Really though, college is so transformative and awesome and I'm so excited for you to kickstart your journey. Buckle your seatbelt because you're in for a crazy but incredibly rewarding ride.

First, I just want to say that I'm incredibly proud of you for making it this far. High school can be a real challenge at times and I don't think people are congratulated enough for purely surviving its craziness. So now what? In my opinion, your very first step in the college process should be simply taking a moment to think about how lucky you are. Consider this: while you moan and groan about how the common application is putting you to sleep, remember that there are people in this world who would kill to be filling out that same boring application. Taking a step back and considering how privileged you are to have the opportunity for higher education is really important and will help you to view the whole process as less of a chore and more of a blessing.

Now that your head's in the right place, let's get into the logistics of it all. Above all, I urge you to begin visiting college campuses as early as possible. No matter how well you think you know a campus from looking at pictures online, nothing compares to actually experiencing the hustle and bustle and getting a glimpse into students' daily routine at the college or university. Can you picture yourself eating in that dining hall? Living in that dorm? If not, that's okay -- now you know what you don't like and you are able to narrow your search. Definitely check out a variety of campuses - big/small, public/private, in state/out of state etc., because this is the best way to get a feel for the type of environment in which you feel you will thrive. In my case, when I stepped onto my college campus for the first time in 2014 something just clicked; I felt at home and knew that Delaware was the place I wanted to further my education.

My next tip is beyond important. As I mentioned in my article entitled "How Social Media Killed the Modern Teenager" (shameless plug - check it out), comparison is the killer of joy. Coming from an academically rigorous and competitive high school, I heard a lot of "that school is bad" or "this school is better" coming from my peers throughout the application process. I know it's hard, but you really can't let those kids' opinions phase you. I personally believe that there is no such thing as a "bad" college education; every student is different and is seeking a unique set of qualities in an institution. Your peers' opinions of the college you're attending should be completely irrelevant when it comes to any decisions you make -- it's your future on the line and all that should matter is that you are happy with where you end up. Remember: you know yourself better than anyone else so you should always be the primary decision maker throughout the college process.

Once you've done some research, visited some schools, and finally submitted all those pesky applications, you've made it to the hardest part: the wait. I know, it's torturous, but honestly all you can do at this point is direct your anxious energy elsewhere. Worrying about rejection will only psych you out completely and cause unnecessary panic. Trust me, my peers who ran around panicking, saying they "weren't going to be admitted anywhere" ended up at amazing colleges and universities around the country and are set up to be so successful. Putting such unnecessary strain on your mental health is never worth it! Now, the next thing I say might sound completely ridiculous to you, but hear me out: rejection is going to happen, and I think that's great. Really. College admissions officers don't just send home a rejection letter to piss you off, they do it because know the type of student who will succeed in their school. If they don't think you'll fit in at their school, then that's great; just one less school to worry about. The key to finding your perfect match is finding a school that wants you just as much as you want them.

If anything, please just remember that you are going to be okay. Although it may seem like it right now, where you go to college is by no means the end of the world or a defining factor in how your future is going to unfold. Sure, I expect that you work hard on those applications, but I also expect that you take care of yourself and enjoy your final year at home.

GOOD LUCK CLASS OF 2017!