The Road to College Brandon Zachary Haynes

More than anything, the past three years of my life have taught me that the journey, not the destination, matters most. Three years ago, I was frantically trying to conjure up a college essay that would make me stand out from other applicants – and now, thirty-six months later, I am back to composing another application essay. Some people may view these years between high school and college as a significant academic loss. However, the places I have been and the people I have met shaped my life in countless ways and have left me a more mature person, ready to embark upon a new journey.

June 6, 2004

Listening to my best friend Neal’s valedictorian speech, I waited eagerly for that coveted piece of paper declaring that I had completed twelve years of school. I graduated seven places behind Neal—something that made my parents ecstatic—but I was just glad to be done. I was ready for a new life, one that allowed me to make my own decisions. I had been admitted to Syracuse University, Stonehill College, and the University of New Hampshire, but when it came time to make a final decision I realized that the cost of attending them scared me to death. I was stuck with what most middle class families are faced with today: the lack of...