It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single woman in possession of a college education must be in want of a "successful" career.
However little known the feelings or views of such a woman may be on her first entering a university, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of parents and peers, that she is already considered as a lawyer, a businesswoman, or a doctor.
One day, Ian said, "Linda babe, did you heard that the recruiting schedule for business and law has finally been released?"
Linda replied that she had not.
"But it is,' said Ian, "Dennis just came and told me all about it babe."
Linda made no answer except to say, "Stop calling me babe. You know I hate it."
"But don't you want to know who's coming to recruitment week?" cried Ian impatiently.
"You really want to tell me, so I guess I'll have to hear it."
That is invitation enough to a guy like Ian.
"Well, babe, you should know, Dennis says that the Charles & Lee law firm recently came by on Monday to talk to the chancellor and they came to such a lovely agreement that it's been formalized that Charles & Lee will hold a weeklong networking event throughout recruitment week!"
"What is the law firm's ranking in America?"
"Number one of course."
"And how many people will it hire?"
"Probably a lot if they're going to this extent to recruit! The number one law firm in America. It'll be so great for the girls!"
"How? Does this even affect them?"
"Linda….babe…," said Ian, "How can you be such a drag? You must know that I am thinking of them accepting a job offer from them."
"Is their goal simply to hire students with the best GPA's?
"Best GPA's! No way, how can you talk like that? However, it's obvious that they want to hire the smartest students, so you need to start introducing your connections to our girls so they can get a leg up over the others."
"I see no reason to do that. You can try and do so or you can use your connections and recruit yourself, which might even be better, since you are as smart as any of them. Charles & Lee might want to hire you over anyone else."
"Babe, you flatter me. I do have my share of smarts, but I don't pretend to be a genius now. When a guy majors in computer science, he ought to give up thinking about his own GPA at that point."
"In such cases, those guys rarely have any GPA's to show off about."
"But, babe, you have to go and use that connection you have. Didn't you say that you had a friend at Charles & Lee?"
"That goes way beyond the duty of roommate and friend. I can assure you that."
"But they're your close friends. Think about the money and status that one of them can gain. Even Jessica and Matthew are determined to do it, simply on that account. And I don't think the girls will get even an interview without those connections.
"You think way too much of me and my connections. If you want the money and status, you should go. They'll probably take you with your Computer Science background. And if it really concerns you, you can tell those connections that I give my hearty OK for them to and accept one of our girls. Although, I think out of all of them, Charlie is probably most likely to get the job."
"Why would you say that? Charlie is not that much smarter than the others; and I'm pretty sure she's not even half the people person that Ellen is. Or half as good at networking as Michelle is. But you're always thinking the best of her."
"They don't have much to distinguish them" replied Linda; "They're all just following whatever society dictates like everyone else; but Charlie has a bit more adventurous sense compared to the rest of society."
"Linda, how can you mock your own friends like that? Don't you think that you're not only hurting their feelings but also mine?"
"You misunderstand me Ian. I have a deep regard for your feelings. After all, I've dated them for a long time. I've heard you talk about them for four very emotional years."
"Ah, you just don't understand my feelings."
"But I hope you'll get over it and be more emotionally stable to see twenty number one law firms come to recruit at our university."
"It'll be no use to us if twenty do come since you refuse make use of your connections for even one of them."
"I promise you, babe, that if twenty actually do come, I will use all of my connections for each and every one of them."
Linda was such a quirky mixture of quickness, sarcastic humor, introversion, and wit that the experience of dating her for four years was not enough for her boyfriend to understand her character. His character was much less difficult to understand. He was a man of limited understanding, little perspective, and frequent mood swings. The purpose of his life was to become rich and successful and its solace was getting his friends to also become rich and successful.