A Reflection on the Christmas Break of the Year Two Thousand and Nine

As another year draws to a close, I cannot help but look back and examine my time spent over the course of this extended winter holiday vacation. It seems two words can almost entirely sum up the nature of my endeavors: college essays. Yes, I’m afraid my twelve days of Christmas have been spent creating a steady flow of written words for the greedy admissions readers over at… well, in case they find this, let’s just say over “there.” Nearly two weeks have been devoted to the writing and perfecting of a seemingly infinite collection of essays. Two weeks pass as I put to paper my innermost thoughts and feelings and, of course, a completely accurate and non-exaggerated list of my accomplishments. And what is the final destination of these words? A one to two minute review by a nameless admissions officer.
Of course, I mean only to vent my pent up frustrations. Should my work be graced by a rhetorical stamp of acceptance, all will be worthwhile. Such rings the speech of countless applicants across the nation. Yet, I question this assertion. Is it not the journey we must take enjoyment in, rather than the destination? Just as we view the Christmas season, let us look not upon the writing of the essays but upon who we write our essays with. How often it is that we take for granted the company of others. Surely, Chris, you must mean your family, those closest to you. No, I’m afraid my family did little to ease my college application process aside from running noisily through the house and complaining about egregious application fees. Who could stand a seventy dollar application fee, a charge which represents a staggering 0.14% of the overall cost of a college education? But I digress and must place my cynicisms aside, as my family truly is a wonder and a blessing (albeit not an easily sufferable one).
I speak, instead, of my amazing friends, who have supported me continuously throughout the trials and tribulations of the past year. I speak also of one whom I have met more recently, and who truly made a gift of each of the last twelve days. It is true that we often strayed from our work, wagering on who could first complete their applications (a bet which I won) and discussing topics from recent movies to the thermodynamics of various liquids. However, in the end, we each met success, along with some excellent adventures. It is for them that I choose to write this post, and not for my English teacher, who likely will not read this until March. I am grateful for their support, as my life would be but a shadow of itself without it. I, therefore, look toward the coming year with patient anticipation and, in an effort to avoid giving this post closure, cease writing.