3. Be Willing to Earn It.
In addition to critical thought, hard work does pay off eventually. Perhaps you are a natural at some things, but you would be surprised how often the people who struggle and then improve end up being the ones who stand out to their teachers, coaches, managers, etc.
I am the poster child for “practice makes perfect.”
When it came to volleyball, I went from being cut, to starting on an undefeated team, to playing Division I in college, and then coaching at the college level. And believe me, I was no natural. I sucked. In fact, I sucked so bad that no one said anything to me at the many training camps I attended in attempts to improve, until I did improve, and I did. I wrote about my struggle with volleyball for one of my college essays, and my words stood out to the coach and Admissions Officers.
When I was in grade school, I was labeled “learning disabled.” Although I had learned to read when I was 3, I developed a visual disability just after kindergarten that made me see lines of words upside down and mashed together. Some of my teachers just thought I was misbehaving or possibly dumb. I would often mess up when asked to read aloud. Of course, my classmates would tease me and think I was horsing around. I was not. I became very good at memorizing so that I could pretend to read in class based on memory.
Fortunately, with a lot of hard work, I was eventually able to overcome this challenge and did not need to wear special glasses to read by the time I was in fourth grade. However, I never got over the stigma—and I still hate to read aloud in public. I am sharing this with you because maybe you second-guess yourself sometimes, too.
My point is, do not be afraid to be honest and admit that you are not the best at everything or anything, for that matter. You do not have to be. Do not be afraid to admit that you had to work hard to get something; because motivation is a sign of character—and that is what the top colleges are looking for in an applicant.
4. Participate in Youth Programs.
Take advantage of and participate in youth programs available in your community. They are an awesome way to get to know other students your age outside of your school. They may also offer you a way to meet college students who can give you advice about college life.
If you can get to a nearby college campus that offers programs for high school students, make the effort. The confidence and experience you gain will be worth your trouble. Money is usually not an issue, since scholarships are available for most programs that require fees.
Get into college
