Suzy Lee Weiss and My Holistic Approach to Her Op-Ed

A few days ago in the Wall Street Journal, an op-ed piece was printed/posted online about a high school senior, Ms. Suzy Lee Weiss, essentially complaining about the approach universities, in specific Ivy League schools take in their determination of college applicants.  It’s been said in many articles, responses, as well as Ms. Weiss that the article was written satirically and for the most part many children her age are in full support of the article.  To be clear, satire in general is pointed at the actual and written in humor, left to be interpreted either humorously, truthfully, or simply whining.  I interpret her piece in all three aspects, I took a holistic approach.    

Ms. Weiss is actually a pretty intelligent 18 year old and seems to have what it takes to make it in this world.  A 2120 SAT score and a 4.5 GPA, on the other hand, intelligence and a stint as United States Senate Page alone will not get you into an Ivy League college.  She mentions in a television interview on the Today Show that she did volunteer a few times but really did not sell herself as a college candidate.  She did receive some acceptance letters from Big10 schools, but I assume that wasn’t enough for her.  

Ms Weiss also stated that she believes Ivy League schools and universities in general should take a holistic approach to college applicants.  Isn’t that what they did?  She didn’t get accepted because she just didn’t have enough on her resume/application while other applicants had a list of volunteer activities, school activities, sports, you know, a holistic application, well rounded.  Life is a rough road and this generation of children with their self-entitled thinking of life is going to get them in trouble.

I don’t understand where her parents or what her parents were thinking allowing her to rant about the family.  I grew up in a home where I was loved, yet also knew my place in the home.  Grateful that there was a roof over my head, food on the table, and thankful for my father’s service to country.  Ms. Weiss slaps her parents in the face with no remorse—disrespectful and ungrateful to say the least.

If for one minute over the last five years she put as much effort into worrying about what others are accomplishing and spent time taking care of number one, then maybe, maybe she would have received an acceptance letter from an Ivy League school.  

I say to the children who have embraced Ms. Weiss’ op-ed/satire/complaint letter, that they look elsewhere for a source of motivation or impetus with college applications.  On the other hand, maybe you should use it as a guide on what you should do—everything those schools are looking for is everything she didn’t accomplish, hence her demise.  

Nothing and I mean nothing in life is easy, life is not a reality singing show, where the battle is only a TV season and you have a music contract.  Life is a constant battle with very little ups and many downs and your life is dictated by how you react to those ups and downs.  This generation was taught there isn’t first, second or third place, “everyone is a winner,” yet I believe Ms. Weiss just received her first dose of the real world and it hurt.  She may be well on her way because of her op-ed to bigger and better things or it may just come back to bite her.  At the end of the day, we’re all writing about her, she received some TV time and that is more than most her age will ever get.  If anything, outside of my own complaining, all I have to say is, “well played,” but she still isn’t a hero for her generation in my book.