After all of the stress and long nights I went through during the semester to get good grades, get my college applications in, and make deadlines for journalism, there was only one thing I wanted for Christmas: an acceptance letter.

I submitted my application to the University of Oregon (my number 1 choice school) very early on, waiting every day to hear something back. I waited weeks and got… nothing.

But just as I had lost hope, I got a fancy packet with a duck on it (because they’re the University of Oregon Ducks). On it were the words, “Big news enclosed.”

I leapt up into the air, smiled from ear to ear and… sat back down because I was too afraid to open the darn thing.

What if I didn’t get in? What if they didn’t like my personal statement, or I didn’t do enough community service? What if they didn’t get my transcripts!?

All of these thoughts rushed through my head. I was in a room full of my family members, all of them waiting for me to open my letter.

What if I disappoint my parents? What if I don’t get into any of my colleges?

Ah, YOLO.

I opened it.

And there she was. The beautiful letter that stated, “Dear Maile, It is a pleasure to offer you admission to the University of Oregon for the class of 2019 — congratulations!”

WOOOOHOOOOO!

If I had to choose just one moment that made me the happiest in my 17 years of life, it would be that moment right there. When you open the envelope, stick your sweaty palms in to grab the letter, and pull out your golden ticket to the best four years of your life — it’s the best feeling in the world.

But I wouldn’t have known that feeling if I had never opened the letter… If I let the prying eyes of everyone around me coerce me into not opening that letter, I would have never known.

As Sam Montgomery said in A Cinderella Story (my favorite movie), “Never let the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game.”

If you want to go to a particular school, apply! If you get a letter from them, and you’re scared to open it, just go for it!

Don’t waste your time on the “what if’s” when you could be working on the “now what’s?”

Take a chance, make a change, and go Ducks!