I was rejected by three colleges that I knew, in reality, would not accept me. I was accepted by UW and three other colleges in California, Berkeley among them.
Written in the early reflection assignment for Honors 100
As I wrote in my reflection assignment, I really wanted to go to Berkeley. My reasons included
Berkeley was in California, far from people from my high school
California is sunny and Washington is rainy
Berkeley is prestigious
Berkeley seemed like the school I "should have gone to"
I realize how weirdly selfish, arrogant, and centered on image my reasoning was now. However, initially I couldn't help feeling that I was missing out. Getting into Berkeley was like self-validation except I still used it to make my self feel better, and feel better than others. I mean the beginning sentence of the first assignment was "Originally I wanted to go to Berkeley." I was still fixated on what I was missing. Except now, I don't want to go to Berkeley. Not because I belong at UW or because Berkeley is overrated, but because I have found my reasons to stay at UW. It sounds cheesy, but the people that I have connected with are special to me. In high school, I didn't believe that people are really that unique. Certain people have changed my mind, and I guess I just like their uniqueness.