DEAR CHICO, DELAMAR, AND GINO...I’m a high school senior graduating this year, and my academics have been great so far. While I’m not the top of the class, I’m not the worst performing student either. I’ve made the honors list a few times, and am generally well-liked.

However, I can’t help but feel a little worried about my chances at getting into a college, especially with the UPCAT results so close to being released. While I know that I did my best, that still isn’t any guarantee that I will get in.

From there, I’ve started to worry about whether I’m going to get into any college at all. It’s gotten to the point where I often stay awake at night wondering how I’m going to break the news to my parents in case I don’t pass any of the entrance exams I took.

My best friend is the only one I’ve told about how I’m feeling, and he says that I should stop worrying because I’ll probably pass anyway. It doesn’t exactly calm me down. What can you guys suggest so I can get over this worrying? -John

CHICO SAYS...Actually, whether your fears are founded or not, there’s no point in worrying, period. I’m not saying that you will pass, because the possibility of you not passing exists, but what I am saying is, worrying won’t change the outcome. You’ve already done your best, there’s nothing you can do to improve or jeopardize your chances any more than you already have. So if it turns out you did pass, then you wasted all these days worrying for nothing. But if it turns out that your suspicions are right and that you failed, then you would’ve worried longer than needed. I say worry when you get there, life will offer you enough moments to worry about; no need to supplement them needlessly. There are enough things happening to worry about, no need to add to that the moments that haven’t even happened yet. Why worry about how and when you will die or if you won’t have money when you grow old or if the world will end during your lifetime? You’ll never know until it’s there. So stick to the here and now, and let the future worry you when it has turned into the present.

DELAMAR SAYS...It’s a done deal. Whatever you could have done to get into UP or any college has already been done as soon as you put in your answer to the last question. Any worrying you do now will HAVE NO IMPACT one way or another.  Worrying is just the mind’s way of tricking you into thinking you can still do something about it.

Here are some ideas to help you through the sleepless nights:

1. What if you really didn’t pass the exams? What will be your next steps into getting into whatever university out there? Let’s face it, most of your worrying stops at the disappointment or shame of not passing. Your mind should go beyond the disappointment, should there be any, to be able to plan what to do next if it really does happen. Which other college or university can accept you? To me, that’s more constructive than just plain worrying.

2. In case you don’t pass the UPCAT, you can always transfer to UP after your freshman year. Just make sure you have good grades to qualify to be accepted. This time around, make sure you study and make every exam, quiz, or project count so you can have the grades to get in to UP by transfer. Again, that’s IF AND ONLY IF you don’t pass.

3. In case you don’t get into UP, there will ALWAYS be some school to accept you. Trust me. It might not be your choice of school but then again this is the worst-case scenario and beggars can’t be choosy.

Most likely you would have passed the entrance exams in the schools you applied for. UPCAT, of course, can make you doubt yourself as it does to most high school seniors, myself included. Like you, I was besotted with the thought of not being smart or good enough to pass it. All of my three elder siblings were already in UP and so the pressure was on. I didn’t want to be the ‘dumb’ one in the brood.

Anyway, now that I’m older, I realized that most of that fear was irrational. It was normal but irrational. While it is great to pass and get into UP, and it sure looks great on your future application forms, it really doesn’t ENSURE your success as a person. There are so many successful people out there who are not from UP or any of the other top universities. And there many people who had mediocre lives and careers after UP. So, really, it is not the end of who you are if you don’t pass it. It’s all the other things that you do after you pass or fail the UPCAT that will propel you into success or doom you into failure.

GINO SAYS...Well, for one thing I didn’t pass the UPCAT and I think I’m doing pretty okay in life. Yes, college is a big deal and yes it’s always nice to get into the school of your choice but it doesn’t define your future.

Chill out, I’m sure you applied to more than just one college. So what if you don’t get into UP? If you’re really, really heart set on going there, worst case scenario is you can always transfer after a year of getting good grades elsewhere. There’s only one way to take your mind off of things until the release of the results, enjoy your last year of high school.

I loved high school so much more than college. I’m sure not everyone shares this sentiment with me but I really did think high school was way more fun. Most of my closest friends now were my friends from high school. Make the most out of the last few months you have with them. Worry about the UPCAT when the results are out. Who knows, you might be worrying for absolutely nothing. For what it’s worth, good luck! Either way, it’s not the end of the world. You are not defined by your college, you’re defined by the work you put in.

(Chico, Delle and Gino welcome your letters. Write to: MByouthsection@gmail.com or the Students and Campuses Facebook Fanpage. Listen to the Kikay Barkada Monday to Saturday, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. over Monster Radio RX 93.1)