Leaving South Africa for the Gothic Wonderland I know where I am going to university this fall! Here is a look at the diary I've kept: Wednesday, March 27 It's been an interesting month so far. At some point I was excited at the prospect of getting my decisions and being measured by the admission officers" rubric. Then I had the whole what-was-I-thinking phase because of my competitive list. All in all, I'm rather calm at the moment. In a few hours I will be getting my first decision from Duke University. Thursday, March 28 It's 1 in the morning. I've just finished my gender studies research paper, and it's time for me to check the portal. The Internet is ridiculously slow, or maybe it's just my need to get this over and done with. Finally, the words come searing through: "Dear Maimuna: Congratulations..." - and that's about all I read as I sigh in relief. I make a quick mental note to read the rest when I'm better rested. I wake up four hours later, apparently more exhausted than before. I read the decision letter from top to bottom. Assurance is a beautiful thing, I realize. I'm not in the least bit unnerved by the fact that I get the rest of my decisions today. I even agree to have a little get-together with some friends so that we can check our portals together later on tonight. Needless to say, the day drags on and on. Friday, March 29 It's now 1:30 a.m. I've received five out of six results: Later, I learned that I was denied admission to Harvard. It's all done now, and I am excited at the prospect of spending the next four years in Durham, N.C., as a Robertson Scholar at Duke University, class of 2017. Things worked out exactly how they were supposed to. Now, I just have to think about life in the Gothic Wonderland. Go Blue Devils! Ms. Abdi Yussuf, a Somali student at African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, is one of eight high school seniors around the world who are blogging about their college searches for The Choice.