Titus Hansel '25 Recruiting Profile

The first few years of high school were filled with raging hormones, teenage laziness, and sluggishness - ignoring responsibility longing for the same childish peace that came from only worrying about eating, where my Lego instructions were, who was going to keep me entertained, and if I would still fit in my frog boots. And here I am now writing a college essay, reflecting on my SAT and ACT scores, thinking about future exams, football practice, juggling my schedules, relationships with peers, and my relationship with God. The general buzz of life is daunting.

I don’t know if I am ready for all this growing up. The fact I am even writing a college essay seems wild; it went too fast. Why did I ever say, “I cannot wait to grow up!” My cousin warned me, “Be a kid while you can.” I should have listened.

 I was so impatient to grow up. I remember when I was little, I wanted to be just like my siblings. I copied everything they did because I wanted to be mature like them. Now, that I am more mature, it is great, but I feel like I spent so much time trying to copy those older siblings and friends. I missed out on the opportunity to be my truly authentic self. Deciding to do the things I want to do can be so difficult when I was trying to copy someone else’s actions to fit in. I found it difficult to keep doing the things I liked without others’ opinions and comments from bogging me down. I was chasing my neighbor’s dog that jumped the fence, and every time I got close, I’d think, “I’ve got him.” Then, he’d take off again. But I’m still responsible for him so I keep chasing. That darn dog that keeps running away from me is me. At first, I was chasing a different “dog.” I used to chase after the friends and siblings that I idolized so much but now, I’m chasing the version of myself I so strongly wish to be. Me deciding to do my work during a certain time frame, making my bed in the morning, and simply going to bed at a reasonable time is impactful - it’s those small choices. Those decisions that seem insignificant are the ones that push me forward to catch that “dog” - to finally catch my best self and look him in the face and know the chase will never end.

 I’ve come so far from where I started in grade school. From a three-foot child who didn’t know what he didn’t know, to a six-foot young man doing his best to take actions toward a better future for himself.

All of this said, it is inevitable to become a “grown-up,” so I must accept it because it is who I am now, and it is a part of me I want to continue chasing.