My dad flew 280 missions in Vietnam as a fighter pilot with the Marines Corps. Since then, whenever he’s facing a stressful, uncomfortable, or otherwise undesirable situation, he always says the same thing:
“Hey, at least they can’t send me to war in Vietnam.”
Memorial Day is a good day for perspective. Students, there are plenty of young men and women who joined the armed forces and then never got the chance to do all the things that you’ll soon be doing—going to college, finding a career, starting a family, etc.
You live in a country with the most open and accessible system of higher education in the world. Beyond the comparatively short list of selective schools, it’s actually never been easier to get into college. There are billions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships available. And what you do while you’re in college will always be more important than whether or not you attended a school that tops the rankings list. Life is good.
Appreciate the fact that not everybody gets to do what so many of us take for granted. And today of all days, remember that nothing—nothing—in the college admissions process ever qualifies as a tragedy.
Be thankful for your opportunities, and remember those who sacrificed to preserve them.