What does Donald Trump, Ev Nucci & #2 have in common?

Wharton!

#2's senior year was miserable. I understood why. His older brother set a high bar for him to follow and #2 loved to beat him. Failure is not attractive on any of us. So you either redefine success, what's important to you...or dig your heals in and refuse to give up.

I dig my heals in and refuse to give up. That became a bone of contention in our house. #2 was wait listed at the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business. My husband and I were discussing the issue in our bedroom. My husband said,

"It doesn't matter. Forget about it."

"Are you kidding? Absolutely not. He's worked too hard, too long to give up now. He's too close to the finish line. He's on the wait list." I said.

I walked into #2's bedroom and said,

"Let me tell you something, the Dean of Admissions is going to ask his Admissions Counselors who they should let into Wharton and you know what? Your Admissions Counselor needs to say, 'there is this kid that calls me every day. That kid wants Wharton so badly that we have to let him in. He's a Wharton kid! If I would have given up when your brother was born he would be dead, so don't ever give up. You call her every freaking day...do you hear me?"

I went back into our bedroom and told my husband,

"He is not giving up this close to the finish line do you hear me?"

Every day #2 called the Admissions department, every single day. Course he put together a relatively unique strategy in addition to calling, but then again, this is one cool kid!

Three days before his graduation he got a phone call from his Admissions Counselor asking if he was still interested.

"Absolutely."

The next day he received an email.

Two days before graduation he received his formal offer...and this success was so sweet, so deserving and meant so so much more than when his brother got into Columbia because he worked seven months longer than #1 did...congratulations #2, you so deserve this. You worked hard for Wharton. You are a Wharton scholar and I am so proud of you!


Thank You for Being Here. It really means a lot to me that you take time out of your schedule to come by.