Tag: college applications

Senior Year Crunch Time: The Final Stretch

therealmasonlaiLeave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What have you been working on?
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If you’ve been wondering what I’ve been up to lately, here’s the honest answer: college applications.

That’s it. That’s the post.

Okay, not really. But it certainly feels that way. Every day’s been a mix of writing essays, editing essays, thinking about essays, and then trying to remember what I was like as a human before essays existed.

What It’s Taught Me

Weirdly, the process has made me more organized than I’ve ever been. I’ve learned how to actually manage time. It’s an improvement over just making to-do lists that never end. I’ve learned how to tell my own story in a way that feels authentic instead of trying to sound impressive.

And I’ve learned that writing about yourself is harder than any AP class.

The Reality Check

It’s not glamorous. There are nights when I’m staring at my computer at 1 a.m. avoiding cliché words or phrases like the plague. There are days when I want to throw my laptop out the window.

But then there are also those small wins: when a sentence finally clicks, or when a teacher or friend gives you a pep talk.

Why It’s Worth It

Somewhere between the drafts and the deadlines, I’ve realized this isn’t just about getting into a school. It’s about slowing down and figuring out who I actually am when no one’s grading me for it.

So yeah. That’s what I’ve been working on.
A lot of writing.
A lot of reflecting.
And a lot of tea.

unapologetically

therealmasonlai1 Comment
Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite word?
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College applications are everywhere right now – on my screen, in my thoughts, and on every advice blog screaming ‘be yourself’.

I’ll avoid sounding cliche, as I might when I try to describe the various elements associated with words like these. Overused phrases can dilute the weight of what I actually want to say, and if there’s anything I want to avoid, it’s echoing the ideas of others.

So let’s start from the foundation. Unapologetic. Not a good trait in most cases. I don’t think anyone would want to meet an unapologetic person. (Unless you’re into that sort of arrogant entitled type of thing.)

But take unapologetic and add ‘-ally’. Now, we approach the core identity of what I love about it. Unapologetically. This carries intention and a refusal to bend without good reason to.

In the midst of college applications, the internet has plenty of advice on what good college essays look like. “Be genuine!” “Be unique!” “Tell a story only you can tell.” But these phrases have been repeated so often that they’ve lost their shape.

So instead? I remember to be unapologetically myself.

Maybe this first post is a promise. To you, and to me. I will write unapologetically. I won’t tailor my thoughts to fit an imaginary audience, or force clarity where confusion deserves to exist. To me, this journey through applications is a lesson to remain grounded in my sense of self. And that it’s okay not to know what that necessarily means.

This platform is a chance for me to flesh out my ideas and take refuge from my short-form-media-infested life. Here, I won’t be cut off after 60 seconds or get drowned out by algorithm-driven noise. Here, I can just think. Breathe. Write.

And for now, maybe that’s enough.

To begin, unapologetically.