The Mistake that Became a Godsend
Choosing a college
I blew it. I was a New England boarding school senior, just 16, and everyone was applying to several colleges. I only applied to one, Middlebury College, because it was renowned for languages and I thought I could study a Spanish major. During my interview there, they asked me a question that floored me: “Do you like skiing?” What? No way, I’d never skied in my life. Of course, they thought I might be one of those kids whose main interest was the ski slopes of Vermont.
Great, so they knew I was serious about language and not ski fun. Of course I’d be accepted! Nope. Months later, I tore open “the letter” only to learn that the answer was no.
Shock. Confusion. All of a sudden, I realized I was so confident that I hadn’t applied to any other schools, and it was too late to be considered elsewhere. Surrounded by preppies who were often getting into more than one college, even Ivy League, I was adrift. What next?
Looking back, I can hardly regret my mistake. I was younger than others, and the extra time gave me perspective and time to grow up.
Don’t we all find that what seems to be a mistake can end up being quite the opposite?
