Thanks to Breya, I learned what a Dorm Haul video is, and now I’m watching them too. (It seems you can have a pretty sweet dorm room if you have Bed Bath & Beyond or The Container Store giving you lots of free stuff.) But Breya isn’t just watching videos. She’s sending off early applications, applying for scholarships, and even joining a new school organization. Things aren’t great—she’s still in virtual school and anxious—but her tone sounds more calm and steady than last month. Read the full interview below.

Meet the Class gets updated each month from September to May. Each installment features an interview about both the facts and the feelings of where the student is in the process.
Interviews may be edited lightly for clarity and grammar. Names may be changed to protect privacy.
Breya attends a public high school in Ohio

Did you get your Ohio State EA application out, or are you still working on it for the November 15 deadline?

I was able to get my Ohio State EA application out last week. It was a struggle as I am applying for college through the Common App and I also applied for the scholarship program.

How is school going? Last month sounded rough, with the isolation and lack of classroom learning. Have things improved? Or got worse?

I guess school has gotten better. Our school decided to extend online learning for another nine weeks. They are trying to get more people to attend school now.

This is a big year for you personally, considering you'll be finishing high school, leaving home, and beginning college. But this year it's also a big year for everyone, with a very contentious election today and a global pandemic. How do you think about this? I've encountered the full range of responses, from people excited to be living in such a "historic time" to people really anxious about all this happening at the same time. Some people are philosophical, while others are keeping their head down and taking it one day at a time. Where do you fall? Have you even had time to think about how this all fits into History?

I am very anxious about it. I won’t talk politics but from results so far and the missing ballots, I think we all know where this is headed. I don’t really have the time to think about it, but the short time I do, it is kind of fascinating to see how people act and how things turn out.

I assume at least some, if not all, your applications require an essay. Would you mind sharing with us what essay prompt(s) you've answered, and give a brief summary of your response(s)?

So far, I’ve only done my Common App essay and my two Ohio State essays. I am working on others for later applications though. For my Common App essay, I chose the prompt, “Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others”. I wrote about moving, online school, along with my shyness all together.

For my first Ohio State essay, it asked, “To what fictional character do you most relate, and why?” To be honest, this is a little embarrassing but I wrote about Alex from Twitches. It’s a Disney movie. I wrote about the representation of black people in media, why I love her character, and how I grew up with this movie.

My second Ohio State essay asks, “How have your life experiences and/or endeavors prepared you to be a Morrill Scholar?” I wrote about growing up in a predominately-Caucasian neighborhood and moving to a crazily diverse neighborhood. I chose to write about this because the program wants people who want to advance diversity, among other things.

Have there been any additions or deletions from your college list? Any interviews, visits, or other college activity?

No. I don’t think I have changed my college list from last time. I have been doing virtual college visits and fairs. I’ve also been watching YouTube videos from students that go to the colleges on my list. I’ve come to love dorm hauls and dorm tours.

Anything else going on that I didn't think to ask about? Anything else you want to share?

I joined Science Olympiad. I’m kind of nervous. I also don’t want to stress myself out. I feel like I am constantly doing things, which I guess could be good or could be bad.

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Photo by Angela Elisabeth.