JIM: You’re a very intelligent girl, Tracy. You have many admirable qualities. But someday maybe you’ll learn that being smart and always being on top and doing whatever you need to do to get ahead, and yes, stepping on people to get there, well, there’s a lot more to life than that. And in the end, you’re only cheating yourself.
This isn’t the time or the place to get into it, but there is, for just one example, a certain former colleague of mine, who made a very big mistake, a life mistake. I think the lesson there is that, old and young, we all make mistakes, and we have to learn that our actions, all of them, can carry serious consequences. You’re very young, Tracy underage, in fact — but maybe one day you’ll understand.
But I also think certain young and naive people need to thank their lucky stars and be very, very grateful the whole school didn’t find out about certain indiscretions which could have ruined their reputations, and chances to win certain elections.
