For most Liberty High seniors, College Application Week is one of the most stressful and exciting times of the year. Between essays, recommendation letters, and looming deadlines, seniors are balancing more than ever as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives.
October means more than just pumpkin spice and homecoming. It is application season, meaning long nights, endless essays, and big dreams about the future. For Senior Hunter Anderson, these days have been packed from the moment the bell rings to the minute he finally puts down his laptop at night. “I got my first two periods, and then I’ll go to the library with all the counselors that are up there and everybody’s applying,” Hunter says. “I open Common App, go to my Colorado colleges, and apply to a bunch of them.”
Between classes. Hunter uses his free time to chip away at applications; he’s already applied to four colleges and plans to keep going.
However, Senior year isn’t just about applications. With basketball season right around the corner and a job after school, Hunter’s schedule is overflowing. “Balancing is a lot,” he admits. “Not only do I have to do that, but I work a lot too. If anything, I’ll just get my homework done at night. Late nights for sure. I went to bed at one o’clock last night writing an essay.”
For Hunter the most stressful part of the day comes after practice and work. “After work, after practice – that’s the hardest,” he says. “I know I have to be responsible and get it done, but I also have to work and get better for my sport.”
It’s not just writing essays that makes college applications stressful. “Kind of just filling information,” Hunter says. “Theres a bunch of information that is so detailed. Like, I applied for Adam’s State, and they asked for my mom’s driver’s license. You never know what information you’re going to need.”
For upcoming Seniors Hunter gives them advice and wisdom for next year. “Look ahead,” he said, “Keep your opinions open and start looking early. Then when it comes to this time, you have a whole list, and you can just get them done.”
We all would go back in time to change something for Hunter Anderson. He would go back and focus more on his grades. “Keeping my grades up would probably affect where I can go, even if it’s not good enough, any points are better than no points.”
As graduation inches closer, Hunter is starting to feel the weight and excitement of what’s next. “It’s a surreal feeling, man,” he says with a smile. “I feel like literally yesterday I was a freshman. Everybody said it goes by fast, and I didn’t believe it. Now here I am- two more months left of first semester, and then… who knows what I’m going to do?”
For Hunter. Like many seniors, the reality of graduation is starting to sink in. The once-distant idea of “senior year” has turned into late nights filling out applications, squeezing in practices, and thinking seriously about the future. Its mix of nerves and excitement creates suspense between the comfort of familiarity and the thrill of something new.
The countdown to graduation isn’t just about the end of high school. It is about the beginning of everything that comes after.
