"Did you ever observe to whom the accidents happen? Chance favors only the prepared mind." - Louis Pasteur
I graduated in the top ten of my high school class, and was accepted into my first choice expensive private college. However, the financial aid package still meant I could not afford to attend this school without going into major debt. In late June, after high school graduation, the director of the honors program to which I had been admitted called to ask me why I hadn't registered for classes yet. I admitted I could not afford to attend the school. She made a few phone calls and one of the admissions officers set up interviews with two philanthropic groups. Between the scholarships I had earned and the original aid package, I only had to pay a quarter of the total tuition for four years. That one call changed my life. I later learned as an alumna that often groups award money to incoming freshmen who end up committing to other universities, and then the scholarship money comes available. No doubt I earned those kinds of awards thanks to the care and interest of two admissions counselors on campus.
My husband and I have known each other since elementary school; however, we never dated each other. We grew up several blocks apart. As an adult, I moved back home to save money for my future as I started my teaching career. While roller-skating for exercise in full 80s neon spandex, I saw my friend washing his car outside. I could have just skated by, but by chance I decided to talk. We chatted about our cars (both convertibles) and other things. I was saving to buy a new car at the time. Six months later, I was driving my spiffy new convertible home from work. I started car flirting with the guy in the convertible next to me. Well, it was my friend. We waved each other down and I followed him home... another chancy move. We started chatting again and exchanged numbers. He lived downtown not far from where I went to college, and we talked about going out in the city. The next week he called me up, and we started dating. This month we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary.
So indeed, chance does favor the prepared mind!
Lori
