I initiated Project Perses to share the stories of students like me. As a senior, applying to college has been one of the hardest endeavors I’ve even undertaken. As a first-generation international applicant, I had to figure out much of the process myself. I’m also low-income and a survivor of abuse and translating these extenuating circumstances into my application was quite the challenge. Applying to college this year, amidst these major changes, was overwhelming and I quickly realized that other applicants felt the same way. While major news outlets and university presses highlight the historical statistics of this admissions cycle, I realized that students’ voices were largely restricted to internet forums and conversations with family. Therefore, I wanted to provide an official platform to highlight seniors’ experiences in a meaningful way and thus, Project Perses was born.