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1. When I was 19 or 20, I was approached by a rich family that was friends with my mom. The dad asked me to help his 17 year old son with his college essay for his application. I said sure, contacted the kid, and set up a time for him to come over....
2...the kid showed up and I asked him what the essays he wanted to write were about. He told me, and showed them to me from the application. I said, Ok, what are your ideas? He hemmed and hawed, threw out a few thoughts. We discussed some more and I told him to prepare a draft..
3...the kid went home after about an hour. Later that night, I received a phone call at home from the dad of the kid. I have never forgotten the last words of what he said. He told me I had "misunderstood" what he wanted. He didn't want me to advise the kid or review his essay..
4...he told me he wanted me to write it. I am not going to writ it, I told him. Then the words I could never forget "I'll pay you."
I exploded. I was a 19-20 year old and yelled at this friend of my moms. How dare he do this, I said. And worse, how dare you do this to your son..
I exploded. I was a 19-20 year old and yelled at this friend of my moms. How dare he do this, I said. And worse, how dare you do this to your son..
5....if he isn't talented enough to get into the colleges, then how dare you push him to go there. And if he is talented enough, how dare you exhibit such a lack of faith in him. I never spoke to that man again. My mom was also appalled. She told me later that they had hired....
6...some woman who tutored kids on how to take the SAT, and paid her to write the kid's essay.
Since I have moved back to Dallas in 2001, I have seen the kid - now an adult - at various functions. And I never can stop thinking about this.....
Since I have moved back to Dallas in 2001, I have seen the kid - now an adult - at various functions. And I never can stop thinking about this.....
7..then I heard him spewing "pull yourself up by bootstraps" and "anyone can succeed if they work hard" statements that always come out of the most privileged.And I have always wanted to scream - LIKE YOU? WHO PAID SOMEONE TO WRITE HIS COLLEGE ESSAY?"
Never had the guts...
Never had the guts...
8....so when I see this thing of parents indicted for paying to get their kids into colleges by cheating...it is nothing new. This was back in 1980. This is not a sign of decay in modern morality. This is a sign of how many rich folks think they dont have to play by the rules.
