Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- afternoon

It's beautiful outside. Today is the first day of 2004 that is forecast to have a high temperature of 70*F or higher. I'm happy that spring seems to be arriving for good. I'm also happy to be looking forward to going to law school this coming fall.

There's a few important things that have changed since I last wrote almost four months ago. But there is another feeling that has impelled me to write this early afternoon. I just received a letter this morning from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, which denied my application for admission. Since the beginning of the application process, I had mixed feelings about applying to Penn Law. But I ended up applying since it had the best reputation of the ten law schools I applied to. I did this despite my reservations regarding the high tuition, and more significantly, the impression of Penn Law students and graduates. More specifically, with few exceptions, Penn Law students and grads are arrogant and unfriendly (moreso the former), either because they come from upper class families or because they are excessively proud of their academic achievement. The record, however, shows that there are a significant number of Penn Law students that are some combination of incompetent, clueless, and unmotivated. Add to these traits the arrogance mentioned above, and it becomes plain the disgust which I feel derives from being rejected from Penn Law.

But then, I step back and listen to what I just said, and then explore my original sentiments. Did I really want to go there? Yes and no. My only hope for Penn Law was its reputation; I would only have used it for that reason. I believe I would have been discontent in every other way. So when its all said and done, as always, I must have faith that it happens for a reason. It's reasonable to assume that it would have brought me much unhappiness, at least for three years. I don't need that; I never need to accept unhappiness.

Furthermore, I keep in mind that those who make history, who make a difference in this world, are not those who attend premier colleges and universities; they are not those who score highest on standardized tests; and quite often they are not those who come from the upper economic echelon of society. Those people that make a positive, lasting contribution to humankind are those that are determined, passionate, intelligent (in a general sense, not necessarily related to tests), moral, compassionate, and faithful. Once these positive characteristics translate into direct action, the world is never the same. It is this conviction, this truth, which maintains my faith.