My fingers gently traced the edge of the pentagonal patch. Soon it would cover my left shoulder. I was proud to wear that patch tonight, but also extremely nervous. Without another moment’s hesitation, I donned the stiff dark blue button down shirt that identified me as the youth core member riding for our local ambulance company. As I sat in the station house, I reached down into my right pants pocket, looking for my phone. That was the wrong...

I wake up just in time to see the sun rising over the Mediterranean. I quickly nudge the person next to me, my best friend and stand partner. Her breath catches in her throat, just like mine. Instinctively we shift our feet a little to feel that our flutes are still safely tucked under the seats in front of us. This is the last leg of our yearlong Symphony Orchestra Tour, and butterflies are beginning to form in my stomach...

I have a lot of advice to give about the recommendation process. The first is that I don't even remember exactly who wrote my recommendation. I do know that I waived my right to read my recommendations before hand, as colleges "prefer" that. However, I did read one of my letters of recommendations after the fact. I found out that the person had wrote that one letter did a really bad job. So my advice is to be very specific with the people writing...