This one guy. We were not friends, more like acquiantances. We both benefitted from studying together. I thought I wanted to be in Med school, so did he.
Turns out our applications were pretty similar, but he got in to a moderately prestigious Med school and I was accepted to grad school. Because we still lived by one another, I thought we could still study together on a somewhat regular basis and benefit from each other's support and drive. He did not. His time was more valuable because he'd been accepted into an elite level. We parted ways.
As time went on, he began to come to me asking if we could study together. . .studying his subjects twice for mine once. Of course, I declined. He argued that his schedule was more strenuous and he needed to keep up with the other medical school students. I argued that he had made his choice (an opportunity I would have killed for) and if he was having trouble keeping up with his colleagues, he was free to come to graduate school (although we both knew it wasn't really an option for him).
His pride and arrogance kept him from a mutually beneficial arrangement (even if less frequent). Now, we are both successful. He graduated at the bottom of his class and is now a successful, though divorced and occasionally depressed Emergency Room Physician at the lower end of his profession. I am a happy, successful, well-published Professor with many friends, colleagues, and a stable life. I guess if a Medical school wanted me to teach a subject, I would be willing, if they gave me a few concessions.
But he does make twice my salary. Darn it.
Maybe I'll see him at a national-level symposium, but I doubt he gets out much now.
***********
It's a metaphor for a little thing I like to call "the truth." Google it.
