My daughter has secured a “Study Abroad” assignment, and as a parent I am excited that I will take a trip at the end of her study to observe the presentation, of what was learned by the students at this school.
For our household, the expense to participate in this study abroad is doable, but a significant cut from our budget. For others at this University, it is nothing, a tax deduction. Soon after my daughter arrives at the foreign destination, the cable for her laptop disappears. She has a phone, but at this time, it cannot replace everything she needs a laptop for. Communication with her is confusing, but it is finally decided that she cannot get this type of cable replacement in this country and her father ends up sending her a new one from the United States. This is a delay, caused by someone, that affects my daughter’s productivity and connection.
When we hear from our daughter, during a phone conversation, she wants to tell us about a student, a Ms. Helton. She has torn her designer shorts while the girls were gallivanting around the Park one day, and that’s going to be a $250 replacement expense for her, she tells the other girls. My daughter could buy at least a couple of complete outfits for that amount of money where we shop. While she is not completely naive about these people, in this sector of the economy, the gap is becoming more noticeable as she expands into the larger world.
When we hear from our daughter, during a phone conversation, she wants to tell us about a student, a Ms. Helton. She has torn her designer shorts while the girls were gallivanting around the Park one day, and that’s going to be a $250 replacement expense for her, she tells the other girls. My daughter could buy at least a couple of complete outfits for that amount of money where we shop. While she is not completely naive about these people, in this sector of the economy, the gap is becoming more noticeable as she expands into the larger world.
Pretending, is the best way to cope with these people.
It is time for our trip now. At the destination, I experience a near miss as I have looked the wrong way crossing at a street corner, but I am still in one piece upon arrival for the brunch greeting the school has arranged for the parents. However, since I am a little late I have missed the pastry cart and it doesn’t return to our table. As we exit we mention to a couple that we will be traveling to Switzerland for some sightseeing, and he says, “oh I have a business there,” which I determined meant that he was the CEO, etc. Moving on to the presentation, and by coincidence, Ms. Helton is a featured student. It is a bit embarrassing. The part where we would see my daughter the most is almost bypassed because of a technical difficulty, but fortunately for her and the other students with her, it is resolved.
Back at home, I am having lunch with my friend. After telling her about my overseas adventures, especially about the presentation, she tells me of a similar experience she has had with her daughter. Her daughter has taken up the competitive sport of fencing. She has to travel from the suburbs to the City, and there she encounters a more specialized group of students, also taking lessons at this school. In competition, it has evolved, in this sport, that the judges are assisted by electronic devices to help them determine “touches.” My friend would say that a lot of the judgements made when her daughter competed against an ultra rich girl, didn’t seem right. The ultra rich girl always won. Technology continues to be an accomplice to misinformation.
It is a situation where both sides question. The losers feel they were treated unfairly, but since they are delving into a new experience, might determine they deserved their judgement. The winners will ask themselves, was I given an undeserved privilege, again? But for many reasons decide they should just take it.
However, sometimes, the ultra rich get caught.
The College admissions scandal involving Georgetown University, Stanford University, UCLA, USD, USC, UT, Wake Forest University, Yale University, comes into the light.
Then some of those who did the work that was expected, if they can figure out how to do it, will try to sue those who ruined their reputations.
“Additional fall-out occurred when Loughlin and Giannulli were named as defendants in a private class-action lawsuit brought by Stanford University graduates, who alleged their education and degrees had been devalued due to their school's association with the case.” [Wikipedia, Lori Loughlin, 2024]