With many college deadlines wrapping up this week, senior Alyssa Martinez is one of several students who must juggle the stresses of college applications on top of daily activities. It takes someone determined to complete the applications, and, like Martinez says, "it takes self-motivation."



Q: What activities do you participate in?

A: Peer Counseling, Theater, and CSF. I also work at Starbucks about 12 hours a week.



Q: How do you manage to stay on top of everything?

A: I try to prioritize my school work. Usually, I just do it; it just happens. I guess it comes naturally after all these years of schooling.



Q: Which colleges have you applied to?

A: CSU Long Beach, CSU San Diego, Chico State, UNR, and UCLA



Q: What is the hardest part about filling out applications?

A: The personal statement; it was horrible! It was challenging to write about myself, because you have to sell yourself to the college. That was hard for me to do.



Q: What do you think is the biggest misconception about senior year?

A: "It's easy." It's far from easy, actually. Obviously, the harder the classes you take, the harder your year will be. You still have to pass all your classes to graduate, so you still have to work hard no matter what. Teachers don't really give you a break just because it's the last year.



Q: Has senioritis struck yet?

A: Yes! I'm very eager to graduate! I'm sure it'll get worse next semester. It started the first day of school.



Q: What is your most memorable moment from your underclassman years?

A: Junior Prom was a big deal, because our whole class was together for the first time. I felt like I connected back to people from middle school.



Q: What's your advice to next year's seniors?

A: Organize yourself as best you can this year, so when you are actually applying for college, you have everything right there to make the process easier. Even though applying to colleges seems far away, it's really not.



Q: In ten years you see yourself...

A: Married to Zac Efron while working as a surgical nurse in Southern California.