2/ A few weeks ago, I was made aware of egregious and callous comments classmates and I made privately years ago - when I was 16 years old, months before the shooting - in an attempt to be as extreme and shocking as possible.
I immediately apologized.
Here is my apology:
Conversation
3/ After I issued this apology, speculative articles were written, my peers used the opportunity to attack me, and my life was once again reduced to a headline.
It sent me into one of the darkest spirals of my life.
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4/ After the story broke, former peers & political opponents began contacting Harvard urging them to rescind me. Harvard then sent this letter stating that Harvard "reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission" and requested a written explanation within 72 hours.
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5/ I responded to the letter with a full explanation, apology, and requested documents.
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6/ I also sent an email to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to seek guidance on how to right this wrong and work with them once I was on campus.
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7/ Harvard decided to rescind my admission with the following letter.
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8/ Somewhat ironically, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion sent me this response regarding my apology:
“Thank you for your email. We appreciate your thoughtful reflections and look forward to connecting with you upon your matriculation in the fall of 2020..."
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9/ After receiving Harvard’s letter revoking my acceptance, I responded by asking for the opportunity to have an in-person meeting to make my case face to face and work towards any possible path of reconciliation.
Harvard responded by declining my meeting request.
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10/ Harvard deciding that someone can’t grow, especially after a life-altering event like the shooting, is deeply concerning. If any institution should understand growth, it’s Harvard, which is looked to as the pinnacle of higher education despite its checkered past.
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11/ Throughout its history, Harvard’s faculty has included slave owners, segregationists, bigots and antisemites. If Harvard is suggesting that growth isn't possible and that our past defines our future, then Harvard is an inherently racist institution.
But I don't believe that.
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12/ I believe that institutions and people can grow. I've said that repeatedly.
In the end, this isn’t about me, it's about whether we live in a society in which forgiveness is possible or mistakes brand you as irredeemable, as Harvard has decided for me.
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13/ So what now? I’m figuring it out.
I had given up huge scholarships in order to go to Harvard, and the deadline for accepting other college offers has ended.
I’m exploring all options at the moment.
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Replying to
Very sorry to hear of your predicament, Kyle. Harvard’s loss. Do you have any alternatives?
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The hurt of your classmates matter. The hurt of ALL the kids on the receiving end of those words matter.
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Please make a list of the worst things you’ve done in your life so we can all decide if you deserve forgiveness
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Yes, people grow and are forgiven. However, your questionable behavior was a mere two years ago, & has now come to light.
Haven't you ever been told not to post something you may regret later, because it will always be there online, & could cost you a job? Forgiveness is earned.
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Don't listen to the haters, Kyle. You deserve your Ivy League shot, and I for one will do anything I can do to support you getting there.
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It just so happens that someone else deserved that ivy league spot more than Kyle. Nobody saying he can't try to get in somewhere else.
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Dude you have not grown. You follow and support people that use horrible language regarding gender, sexuality, a president that made fun of a reporter’s disability. You have shown zero growth. Otherwise these are the not the same people you support canes in point #NeverHarvard
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That has nothing to do with his hate speech that landed him here, whining on the internet.
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