“For college?” I assumed she meant that, but she shook her head.
“I don’t want to go to college. I think I may head to New York and do something there. I don’t know. I’ve always lived in this town and I want to go somewhere exciting.”
“And you don’t want to go to college?” I found that a little hard to believe since way back when I was sixteen, I’d dreamed of going just for the experience. I had been excited about what I was going to study, but it was like going to college made me grow up.
“No, I don’t think so. I don’t really think it’s for me. Plus, I don’t know what I’d do there. I’m not exactly an A student. I’m not even a D student, so I doubt any college will accept me.”
“I think it’s better not to go if you don’t know what to do. College is important and you need to know how to have a good balance. Work very hard then you can play harder.” She smiled when I said that and came over to sit next to me.
“Play harder?”
“To reward yourself. That’s important. I always do that, and I did that when I was in college.”
“Where did you go?”
“Yale.”
Her chin nearly hit the floor. “Yale? As inYale?”
“Mmhmm.”
Now this was nice, and so unlike Sally’s reaction this morning.
“Yale was amazing, but I made sure I had options.”
“Options? God, like what?”
“Harvard and UCLA offered me scholarships, but I turned them down because Yale had a program I felt was more suitable for me and my career.”
“That’s so amazing. I’ve never met someone so intelligent.”
“Thank you.” Hearing that and seeing her admiration of me made hope spark in my heart.
“It’ll never happen for me though.” She shook her head in dismay.
“If you believe you can do something, you can do it, but make sure it’s what you want and not what someone else wants. College is a fantastic experience and you’ll get lots of opportunities. That is something you shouldn’t turn down, because it takes away from the choices available to you.”
“You make it sound so cool.” She bit the inside of her lip. “Dad wants me to go to college.”
“And you don’t?” I was starting to get the impression she didn’t want to go because she wanted to spite her father.
“I…don’t know now. I don’t see myself going, and I don’t really have the desire to go.”
“How about you do more exploring before you make up your mind?”
“I’ll think about it. Tell me about your major—it sounds amazing.”
That was like flipping the switch in my mind that made me talk nonstop.
