In Chaos-theory, the butterfly effect is described as the sensitive dependence on initial conditions. A small change in one place in a deterministic non-linear system can result in large differences to a later state. The flapping of a butterfly’s wings in one part of the world can set in motion what will become a hurricane weeks later in another part of the world.
Mark, like me, didn’t get in. The result came yesterday, and Mark has been curiously nonchalant and disappointed at the same time. Mum has been raging over the phone. His parents have shrugged, and accepted that such a place is not for the “likes of them”.
And this furnace of a mind that live inside of the man I love will remain untapped for now. Our lives seem set for the next four years. We’ll live here, in this house, with the dogs – much like we’ve lived together for two years now. Things aren’t changing, only the location where we go to in the morning.
In Chaos-theory, this could be the butterfly flapping its wings. I’d like to think so. I’d hate to think that class and pedigree was what sealed our applications. I don’t think that is the case because that would be blaming an outside force for what is most likely within ourselves.
doesn’t look like a bad prospect to me :p
)
You two can keep living together and play happy man and man ( or something like that
Commiserations to Mark. I’m sure he’s just as disappointed as you were. But. By staying local you also ensure that the two of you will grow /together/. And that makes for a happy marriage.
I hope so. My manipulative plan was mostly to get into Oxbridge so that I wouldn’t have to do more than four years to get a Bachelor’s. With a letterhead from Oxbridge that might have been enough to give me a good job. For Mark though, he should have had access to the best scientific departments and professors. I think he would have thrived there.
Both of you are just starting out. I think you’ll thrive no matter where you study. And then who knows where you might do your Masters of PhDs?
I am confident you will both exceed the elites expectations of you. There are plenty of examples of people who went on to do well without clutching the diploma from an elite university in one hand. I think you both will be happier as a couple being together under one roof and in the same bed. Long distance relationships are tough to pull off. To borrow a bit of a lyric; your futures so bright you’ll have to wear shades.
I get the feeling that you planned on going to Oxbridge while Mark aspired to go there. So for him he gave it his best shot and can accept the rejection easier, it was never integral to his future plans. In fact, once he knew you weren’t going, I wonder if he was internally torn about what to do should he be accepted. So, in a sense, it’s a relief that the decision has been removed.
That’s a pretty good description of it. I still think he should have been accepted though because the natural sciences-departments at Cambridge are among the best in the world.
Think of it as an opportunity to put a ‘lesser’ school on the map.
It’s still a major accomplishment to have been accepted for University places despite they’re not being at Oxbridge. You will be close enough now to support each other and still manage your lives together quite well. I hope you’re both proud of yourselves and each other despite the disappointment.
in the end, i think you will Both be better for not having entered that insane hothouse of arrogance and pretension.
we can only judge Mark by what you have told us, because we do not know him. you have bared your soul here and elsewhere.
as i’ve told you, it is oxbridge’s loss, not yours.
now go forth and change the world on Your terms. be happy, be successful and be fruitful (yeah right… fookin gays!)
I am sad for both of you that your dreams have been shattered in that way. But you will both succeed despite it, and very likely be far better people.
bless ya, little man
Commiserations to Mark, but the same applies to him as he said to you regarding the pressure that we put on ourselves to do well – he still has done well, to get into uni at all, so I hope he will be happy at whichever uni you both end up in. And the whole uni experience will be that much better for you too, sharing it directly with Mark. While it may not be the ‘perfect’ future that you’d been hoping/planning for, it’s still a pretty good future to look forward to, eh?
I’m sorry he didn’t get in, but glad that you’ll have more time together.