It’s that time of year when college applications are due, and as I apply, I notice the bulky numbers watching me. The tuition, housing, books and meal plans. It all keeps adding up. When I finally figure out the final numbers, I slowly die inside, as I think, “how in the world am I going to pay for this?” I might as well accept that fact that I will be working at McDonald’s for the rest of my life.

But since I’m not about that working life yet, I decided to apply for some scholarships, thinking it was going to be a piece of cake. Man was I wrong. Not only do you have to fill out an application with pretty much every detail in your life in it, but you also have to write essays.

I’m not talking about the simple three-paragraph essay you wrote in communication arts. No. This is a four-page essay over the most boring things ever.

For one of the scholarships, I had to do an audio recording of myself reading my essay. First off, I am not a person who shows my feelings freely, so this was a real struggle for me. Then I had to emphasize words that I had trouble pronouncing in the first place and use different tones of voice that I didn’t even know I could use.

The only good part about working hard on scholarships is when you get free money. That is, if you win out of the millions of other seniors who applied for the same scholarship.

In the long run, scholarships are always going to have their ups and downs.

Yes, it is going to take time out of your studying time, which you probably aren’t even doing because senioritis has already kicked in.

However, it is a chance to earn money to help you pay for college. This will help you in the future when you get out of college and are debt free from applying for and are awarded all those scholarships your senior year in high school.

That is when you will appreciate all the blood, sweat, and tears you put into writing all of those essays.