Something to consider for this upcoming week and beyond

[Ivan Hauck]

Dear Counselees (your parents cc'd),

As we approach the end of the semester, many of you will be receiving news
about applications soon.

It is easy to think of a college decision as a binary result, where
"accepted" means success and "deny" equates to failure. It is easy to feel
a sense of accomplishment, pride, and even relief if you earn admittance
while feeling disappointment if you are told to look elsewhere. It is easy
to think that all that you have worked for has finally paid off if a school
approves your application and to believe that you have wasted your efforts
if a school chooses someone else. These are all very natural emotions at
this time of year and whatever outcomes you receive, I hope that you
embrace your feelings fully, and find others with whom to share them.
Whether you are indeed about to hear from a college or not, this is an
exciting time, and an exciting year in your life. This is probably one of
the first times where you have put so much effort into something so
personal and dedicated so much energy into one decision that will indeed
significantly impact your life. Everything that you end up feeling is
completely normal and healthy.

Here is my challenge to you: try, as hard as possible, to think beyond the
binary outcomes. Think beyond the "yes" or "no" and consider your growth as
you progressively become more independent adults. How have you challenged
yourself? What mistakes have you made? How have you grown? How do you hope
to continue developing? How will you most take advantage of what is
available to you?

Part of life is taking risks. Part of being an adult is setting goals,
working hard, and hoping to reach certain outcomes. Sometimes those
ambitions are reached easily, other times not as much. Sometimes rewards
are clear and immediate, other times they are not. Each one of you has
lived through varying degrees of success and failure, happiness and sadness
throughout high school. Whatever outcomes are provided, you will still
fundamentally in the moment be the same person that you are currently. One
could argue that a decision from a college or university changes everything
but ultimately you are the one who determines that. One could also argue
that what paths you choose to pursue after ASL and how you choose to
explore these opportunities will ultimately impact you more than what
evaluation a college or university makes about you.

This process is not easy -- it requires tremendous energy and investment,
occasionally leading to significant stress and worry. Though you all are
tremendously privileged to have the resources and adults around you, it is
still a difficult process. Self-reflection requires time and vulnerability.
Thank you for being so open and honest in our meetings.

No matter what the outcome of the decisions that are released soon and
throughout the rest of the year, I very much hope that you continue to come
in and see me. I hope that you continue to be open with the wide range of
emotions that accompany senior year. I hope that you continue to find both
success and disappointment so that you learn more about yourself and
ultimately become a better, more self-aware person. I hope that you
continue to be kind, wonderful friends to each other. I hope that you
recognize how special yet challenging senior year can be, particularly this
college process, and treat each other accordingly.

Being evaluated and scrutinized by others is never easy, but it is a part
of life, as is learning how to truly appreciate yourself and all that you
offer. I have very much valued watching all that you offer every day to our
community and am proud to see how much positive impact you have on your
friends, family, and school ... and me. I continue to be surprised,
impressed, and inspired by the people you are becoming.

If you would like a little more food for thought, you can read Mrs.
Richardson's perspective here
<https://www.asl.org/program/high-school/academic-advising-college-counseling/college-counseling/life-beyond-asl>
(you will need to login through your ASL account):

In order to best support all of you, we as college counselors will be
available during these times in the upcoming week and a half:

   - After school every day this week (except for Wednesday's faculty
   meeting)
   - All day next Monday and Tuesday (just e-mail to set up a time)
   - Available via e-mail over the weekend, and up until the 21st December,
   and then again from the 27th-29th December

Thank you for a wonderful first semester,
Mr. Hauck

-- 
Ivan Hauck
College Counselor / Grade 12 Dean
The American School in London
One Waverley Place
London, NW8 0NP
UK

www.asl.org
+44 (0)20 7449 1245

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* Registered office address: One Waverley Place, London, NW8 0NP
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