Something Special

Shifra is. I can't believe I missed this post until now. Busy season stinks. Excerpt:

There was a $50 non-refundable application fee which I didn't have, and I couldn't ask my parents for. Five friends gave me $10 each, knowing I wouldn't be able to pay them back (even with uniforms you can tell who has money and who doesn't.) I went to my interview with high hopes. The Rabbi barely spoke to me - I could have told him about my hobbies, my sick brother, my family, my interests but no, he wanted me to read a huge Ramban - cold.

I couldn't do it. I tried. I choked. I was not accepted.

Read the whole thing... and the comments.