I’m pretty used to people looking at me like I’m crazy.

The second I entered the rock-climbing gym at age thirteen, I immediately boasted to everyone I met that I would be an Olympian. Parents, coaches, and even random people. I’m sure the cashier at my local CVS found my goals quite entertaining.

Ambitious? Well… yes. But I was driven! The naïve claims that I would be World Champion within a year of competing may have been a tad overstated, but the vision was the key driver that has let me systematically progress towards my goal.

Over the past six years, I’ve trained relentlessly. Thousands of hours of hard work unlocked the amazing opportunity to join the Finnish National Team, and I have since represented Team Finland on the World Cup circuit. I’ve been pushed to test my skills during each and every competition, but I see a clear progression and each step forward motivates me further.

So, you may be thinking… what does this have to do with applying to university? Well, as it turns out, a lot more than you might think.

When I sat down to write my Harvard application essay, the biggest thing I tried to emphasize was my story.

What narrative did I want to show that tied all my activities, athletics, and academics together?

Why am I unique to other applicants?

What sets me apart?

My strong ties to both my Finnish and American identities, combined with the worldview I forged through my experiences as a competitive athlete proved to be my answer to these questions. Climbing helped me realize that there is no “either-or” answer, but rather an “and.”

I don’t think that I was accepted to Harvard for being smarter, more talented, or more accomplished than everyone else. I think I was accepted because I was able to turn every element of my application into a pillar that supported my greater narrative – I had a story.

So, as you approach your applications, I encourage you to look at everything you’ve done leading up to this moment and dig deep – find your vision, core, story, whatever you want to call it. The thing that has motivated you to get up out of bed every morning and do all the amazing things you’ve worked on over the past four years.

Once you’ve found that, make it shine. Show the admissions officers not only who you are, but why you are who you are. Look at each activity, supplemental essay, and main essay as a chance to highlight this core.

This doesn’t mean being redundant! If you find your driving vision, you will likely have many examples across many domains that you can highlight as a part of your application.

Here are a few of my application dos and don’ts.

• Don’t write something just because it sounds cool. Instead, do have a deeper idea behind each thought that ties into your application.
• Don’t use long words you don’t even know the meaning of. Instead, do lean into your personal writing style and ask for peer feedback.
• Don’t try to copy the essays you see online. Instead, do use them for inspiration – maybe try and pinpoint what the author wants to emphasize about their identity as a helpful drill.

So all in all, as you tackle your college applications, let what makes you unique shine through. For me, it was my journey as an athlete. For you, it might be something like mastering the flute or discovering a passion for coaching after a sidelined injury. Whatever your story, own it with confidence — you’ll find the university that’s the right fit.

Rejections? They just mean it wasn’t your match.

Acceptances? They’re keys to doors you didn’t even know were there. Go tell your story and open them!