Not getting into the college of your dreams can be tough. Some go through denial, anger, bargaining or depression before they can fully accept the rejection. And although it’s usually not long before you happily get accepted into a university, a bitterness to those who said, “sorry, not sorry,” still remains. Suzy Lee Weiss, a senior at Taylor Allderdice High School, typed out her rage into a snarky op-ed that was published by The Wall Street Journal.
Weiss says the college admissions process is unfair. They are looking for students who stand out and are diverse. She claims that people are being denied from school based on things they cannot change.
“Show me to any closet, and I would've happily come out of it. 'Diversity!' I offer about as much diversity as a saltine cracker. If it were up to me, I would've been any of the diversities: Navajo, Pacific Islander, anything. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, I salute you and your 1/32 Cherokee heritage,” says Weiss.
Many could find her piece witty. Some say she sounds spoiled and lazy. When interviewed on the Today Show, Weiss said the piece is a satire, like something you would see on 30 Rock. But all in all, she sends a poor message:
“Raising awareness for Chapped-Lips-in-the-Winter Syndrome. Fun-runs, dance-a-thons, bake sales—as long as you're using someone else's misfortunes to try to propel yourself into the Ivy League, you're golden.”
While poking fun at those who have same-sex marriages, started their own non-profits or come from a cultural background, she gives people an excuse to be average. You cannot be mad at those who take the time out to study abroad, help at a homeless shelter or learn a new language.
Yes, colleges want diversity, but that is something you can change. College campuses could be considered their own melting pots. Hundreds of students from different backgrounds are all living within a couple of miles. Colleges want to accept students who have an understanding of diversity and who can adapt well to this type of environment. College essays ask you to describe a time when you were out of your natural element and how you adapted. As a person, it is your job to branch out and explore different walks of life.
You can't change where you come from, but you can change how much you explore outside of it. There is no excuse for being average. So put some cheese on your saltine cracker, or dip it in some hummus. Just because you were not born a Fire Roasted Tomato and Olive Oil Triscuit, doesn’t mean you can’t become interesting and create your own flavor.
Photos from wildbluffmedia.com and clutchmagazine.com
