The Smalrus Web Site

My sister is in the process of applying for a program. In an initial draft of her personal statement, she writes about my convoluted path to happiness. I don’t necessarily think it fits her personal statement, but I’m flattered nonetheless… Dayenu, Elise…

“I have tried to start believing that life has a way of falling into place and that circumstances happen for a reason… bashert. I try to view my older brother as a testimony to this philosophy. Had he not underachieved in college and not been undecided about his future, he would not have ended up back home for 2 years. Had he not ended up back home and not been lonely, he would not have registered on JDate. Had he not registered on JDate and not gone out on a few dates, he would not have met his wife. Had he not been frustrated with living at home and not wanted more for himself, he would not have tried to pursue law school. Had he not pursued law school and not been unsuccessful being accepted into a school, he would not have then pursued an MBA. Had he not pursued an MBA and not interned for an investment firm in Manhattan, he would not have gotten a job offer. Had he not gotten a job offer and not been laid off, he would not have had almost a year to re-evaluate. Had he not had almost a year to re-evaluate and not have realized he wanted a PhD, he would not have pursued the perfect path for his life. Bashert.”