We asked seven girls returning to school this fall what they were most worried about. These are their responses.
- “What I am most nervous about as a rising junior is all the stress that goes along with the college process. There’s so much work involved in filling out applications, touring schools, and finding the right school. I haven’t been to any big parties, and I haven’t even had my first kiss. I am concerned that I haven’t ‘caught up’ with my peers.”
- “I’m worried that I won’t be able to find my niche at school. I am trying to reinvent myself in terms of extracurriculars and academics and I’m worried I won’t find what I’m passionate about. I’m starting to feel more and more pressure to figure out my interests and to have an idea about internships that I want and I don’t feel ready for it yet.”
- “I’m worried about reentering the social scene. I took some time off of school and haven’t seen many people or gone to a party in quite some time. I’m just feeling a lot of social anxiety.”
- “I’m worried about creating a new normal for myself at college. I’m going to be a freshman, and while I couldn’t be more excited, it’s nerve-wracking to know that I’ll have to adjust to a new place, college classes, and the social environment quickly once I arrive.”
- “I’m entering my senior year of highschool and I’m concerned that my procrastination skills are going to overdrive. My course load coupled with my college apps give me a lot of anxiety but I don’t want to be in a position where I’m playing catchup in either of those areas.”
- “Before I graduate I have to do a huge, year-long research project and write a thesis. I’m pretty stressed because the lab I’m doing research out of on campus is pretty intense and I’m always worried I’m not smart enough to hang.”
- “This year is my senior year of high school. At the beginning of the summer, my mother, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer three years ago, had a bad fall. An MRI confirmed that she has multiple brain metastases. I’m worried that I will have less time with her than I had originally anticipated. And I’m worried about the college application process. Why does everything have to happen all at once? I hate uncertainty”