November, he’s waiting
Amber, gold, and crimson drift like confetti from the trees
but the supplemental essay he must write is all he sees
he sits at the table
with his family on thanksgiving
but he’s not actually there
he’s worrying about the B’s he got during sophomore year,
how much will the admissions officer care?

December, he’s worrying
snow crunches under his boots
each house on his block is dressed in lights
but submitting his first quarter grades to colleges
is all that’s in his sights
his parents and friends all say that he’ll get accepted
“don’t be so low!”
he doesn’t believe them,
what did they know?

January, he’s waiting
he spends his snow day at home alone
with his nervous thoughts buzzing like hornets, he bemoans
the words “i got accepted!” glare at him
as he scrolls down his facebook feed
the uncertainty is unbearable
what if he is rejected? what if he doesn’t succeed?

February, he worries and waits
the month where he finds out where he’s going for the next four years
his mouse hovers over the button
his heart pulsing with fear
was he dreaming? he wondered as a smile spread across his face
the words on the screen seemed to wrap around his body
like a sweater
like a warm embrace

“Congratulations!” the letter seems to shout
Today is one of the best days of his life, no doubt
no more worrying and waiting!
he was done!
his future has just begun