Hello, my name is Cooper Kimosh. I haven’t lived through the hardest struggles in the world, but like most kids my age, I’ve had moments that felt overwhelming and far bigger than I expected. One of the biggest came when I applied to high school.
For years, I assumed the admissions process would be simple. I’d apply, wait, and get an answer. But when it finally began, the pressure hit me in a way nothing else had before. The school I wanted most, Jesuit, was extremely competitive, and suddenly I started worrying that I hadn’t done enough, studied enough, achieved enough, and that I wasn’t enough.
That fear began affecting everything.
I felt anxious most days.
Focusing in class became harder.
I compared myself to other kids constantly.
The more I worried, the less I could concentrate, and the less I could concentrate, the more I worried.
I didn’t like the version of myself I was becoming, and I realized something had to change. I needed balance. I needed clarity. I needed peace. I needed someone to talk to, someone who could help me carry a weight I felt alone in.
For me, that someone was God.
At first, my prayers were small and desperate, almost rushed: “Please help me.” But the more I prayed, the more my heart softened. Slowly, I felt myself becoming calmer and more focused. Praying didn’t magically remove the stress, but it reminded me that I wasn’t facing it alone. I felt closer to God, and I trusted that He understood the worries I kept hidden from everyone else.
What I’ve learned is that no situation is too complicated for God to repair or help us repair. His love is endless, and when we let Him into our fears, He brings peace, strength, and direction, even when the circumstances around us don’t change immediately.
After the interviews, essays, and long months of waiting, I made myself stop and reflect. What had this process taught me? Where had I grown? What mistakes had actually shaped me for the better? What choices made me proud, and which made me want to do better next time? Most importantly: Where was God calling me?
These questions helped me understand something I never would’ve learned without the struggle: growth comes from reflection, not perfection.
Then came the night before the results were released. Instead of letting worry take over again, I prayed, “God, whatever happens tomorrow, I trust You. Lead me where You want me to go.” And surprisingly, I felt peace, real peace, for the first time in months.
The next morning, an acceptance from another high school arrived, which lifted my spirits. But the school I wanted most still hadn’t responded, and the waiting felt unbearable. My parents drove me to my grandparents’ house and told me to stay in the car. That made my stomach twist. My thoughts raced with every possible scenario.
Then I remembered my promise to God.
Trust.
No matter what.
Eventually, I walked into the house. It was strangely silent. I stepped into the living room and saw blue and gold balloons spelling out, “Congratulations, Cooper!” My whole family was there smiling, cheering, celebrating the moment with me.
And in that moment, I felt someone else there too.
I felt Jesus beside me just like He had been the entire time.
Looking back, I realize that so many kids my age go through the same hidden stress. We all want to feel like we’re enough. We all want our hard work to matter. We all worry about whether we’ll measure up, fit in, or make it where we hope to go. Stress might look different for everyone, but the fear underneath is often the same.
If you’re going through something similar, here’s what I learned:
You don’t have to carry the pressure alone.
God is already walking with you.
Your worth isn’t defined by a decision email.
And sometimes the waiting isn’t a punishment, it’s preparation.
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About Future Voices
Future Voices is a Sunday morning column in The Dallas Express where young Texans share how faith and perseverance shape their lives. These stories remind readers that God often speaks through the honesty and courage of the next generation.