vASSar
Firstly, I would like to give myself props for the title of this entry. I like it. Except that I don't actually think Vassar is an ass, I just want everyone to know that it's not my favorite institution at the present moment. And that's because, boys and girls, I was rejected. The letter told me that "I wasn't selected as a member of the Class of 2011," but that really means, "YOU WERE R-E-J-E-C-T-E-D!" You can't sugar-coat it.
However, I am not writing this to wallow in the depression of "not good enough;" one, because I know I AM good enough (for me at least), and two, because I actually want to tell you all a story that had to be framed by my application status.
There is a girl at my high school, let's call her Irene, who is on the swim team with me. She is a really spirited girl, always pleasant, and a pretty fine distance swimmer. We always said hello to each other in the halls, cheered each other on during meets; one could say we were pals.
During my college process, I had selected Vassar College as my top choice. I had visited (three times), I had contacted the swim coach, and I had poured a lot of my time and my effort into making sure this place knew how much I wanted to be there. One of these such measures was to take a recruit trip for the swim team. I signed up online and got an e-mail back in a few days from the coach with the itinerary of the trip. That e-mail also included the names of other recruits who would be on the trip. I scanned the list. Didn't know any of th--WAIT A SECOND!! Irene! Irene from Westfield! That HAS to be the girl from my swim team!
I noticed that the e-mail was copied to all the other recruits. One of the e-mails was Irene@whatever.com. That had to be her...
So I sent a message to this e-mail. "Is this Irene from WHS? From the Swim Team?"
Reply: "YES!! Can't wait to party it up on our recruit trip together!"
So, to make a long story less long, Irene and I went on the swim trip, had a blast, and voyaged back to Westfield closer than we had began. I found out that Irene was applying ED to Vassar as well. "Wouldn't it be so great if we both went here?" she asked. I know she really meant it. She's just that nice.
So the letters come (two days ago actually, it seems like forever). I get rejected. Irene gets in! I'm overwhelmingly happy for her. She deserves it! She'll do great there! I wanted to call her when I found out her news, but I didn't want to seem stalker-ish. So I would wait until swim practice the next day. No, actually swim meet. We had a meet the next day against St. Joe's (aka No chance we would win).
So I get to the meet, change and step out on deck. Since it is just a boy's team meet (St. Joe's is all-boys) the girls are timing for us. I see Irene. She looks sad which doesn't make sense for someone who just got into college. Her eyes are glazed and fragile-looking. But, being the loud crazy that I am, I bound over to her and give her a big hug. "Congratulations Irene! I'm so happy for you! You're awesome." I didn't really hear her response. Maybe she didn't even. Maybe she just smiled her sad-looking smile. I don't know.
The swim meet ends. We lost. I swam pretty decently considering my emotional and physical state (just my luck I have a stubborn cold the week I get my rejection letter). So I do the cheer for the other team, shake hands, go to the locker room, get changed, and head home.
Once I'm home and showered, I plop down in front of the computer for some mindless surfing. I go to my e-mail first. Messages with subjects like, "Free laptop if you act now" or "Having erectile trouble?" DELETE. Then I see an e-mail with no subject. Sent by Irene@whatever.com.
I open it.
It reads:
"Hey Robert,
Thank you very much for you congratulatory hug today. It takes quite an amazing person to still be happy for me even though I know how sad you must be. It was a bittersweet moment for my parents and I because we wanted so badly for us to go together. I cannot tell you how sad we are. I wanted to say more to you when I saw you today but I wanted you to swim well. Don't worry. I am a strong believer in fate and I think that there is a reason for everything. You are applying to so many other terrific schools that you will do great at. You will probably do better at any of your other schools than I would have at mine. I wish you a lot of luck.
<3 Irene"
If there was a time in my life when I had to pinpoint the exact moment when I began to believe that there really is GOODness in other people, it would be reading this e-mail.
I just wanted to share this with you.
Sorry it took so long, but I think it's worth it.
However, I am not writing this to wallow in the depression of "not good enough;" one, because I know I AM good enough (for me at least), and two, because I actually want to tell you all a story that had to be framed by my application status.
There is a girl at my high school, let's call her Irene, who is on the swim team with me. She is a really spirited girl, always pleasant, and a pretty fine distance swimmer. We always said hello to each other in the halls, cheered each other on during meets; one could say we were pals.
During my college process, I had selected Vassar College as my top choice. I had visited (three times), I had contacted the swim coach, and I had poured a lot of my time and my effort into making sure this place knew how much I wanted to be there. One of these such measures was to take a recruit trip for the swim team. I signed up online and got an e-mail back in a few days from the coach with the itinerary of the trip. That e-mail also included the names of other recruits who would be on the trip. I scanned the list. Didn't know any of th--WAIT A SECOND!! Irene! Irene from Westfield! That HAS to be the girl from my swim team!
I noticed that the e-mail was copied to all the other recruits. One of the e-mails was Irene@whatever.com. That had to be her...
So I sent a message to this e-mail. "Is this Irene from WHS? From the Swim Team?"
Reply: "YES!! Can't wait to party it up on our recruit trip together!"
So, to make a long story less long, Irene and I went on the swim trip, had a blast, and voyaged back to Westfield closer than we had began. I found out that Irene was applying ED to Vassar as well. "Wouldn't it be so great if we both went here?" she asked. I know she really meant it. She's just that nice.
So the letters come (two days ago actually, it seems like forever). I get rejected. Irene gets in! I'm overwhelmingly happy for her. She deserves it! She'll do great there! I wanted to call her when I found out her news, but I didn't want to seem stalker-ish. So I would wait until swim practice the next day. No, actually swim meet. We had a meet the next day against St. Joe's (aka No chance we would win).
So I get to the meet, change and step out on deck. Since it is just a boy's team meet (St. Joe's is all-boys) the girls are timing for us. I see Irene. She looks sad which doesn't make sense for someone who just got into college. Her eyes are glazed and fragile-looking. But, being the loud crazy that I am, I bound over to her and give her a big hug. "Congratulations Irene! I'm so happy for you! You're awesome." I didn't really hear her response. Maybe she didn't even. Maybe she just smiled her sad-looking smile. I don't know.
The swim meet ends. We lost. I swam pretty decently considering my emotional and physical state (just my luck I have a stubborn cold the week I get my rejection letter). So I do the cheer for the other team, shake hands, go to the locker room, get changed, and head home.
Once I'm home and showered, I plop down in front of the computer for some mindless surfing. I go to my e-mail first. Messages with subjects like, "Free laptop if you act now" or "Having erectile trouble?" DELETE. Then I see an e-mail with no subject. Sent by Irene@whatever.com.
I open it.
It reads:
"Hey Robert,
Thank you very much for you congratulatory hug today. It takes quite an amazing person to still be happy for me even though I know how sad you must be. It was a bittersweet moment for my parents and I because we wanted so badly for us to go together. I cannot tell you how sad we are. I wanted to say more to you when I saw you today but I wanted you to swim well. Don't worry. I am a strong believer in fate and I think that there is a reason for everything. You are applying to so many other terrific schools that you will do great at. You will probably do better at any of your other schools than I would have at mine. I wish you a lot of luck.
<3 Irene"
If there was a time in my life when I had to pinpoint the exact moment when I began to believe that there really is GOODness in other people, it would be reading this e-mail.
I just wanted to share this with you.
Sorry it took so long, but I think it's worth it.