11 Comments

Oh absolutely fab read! You wrote this is a way that felt like very articulate gossip? I was hooked till the end

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"very articulate gossip" is such a vibe. thank you for reading my essay and for your kind words. it means the world <3

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This was a *delicious* read. I always marvel at the finesse and tact that is required to navigate elite spaces. Nothing really is as it seems.

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i always assume the opposite of what i see.

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Thank you for this! We’re kindred—I’m thinking/writing a lot about my experience as a working class Black woman at Princeton. Please keep writing.

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hiii. love that we’re kin <3 yes, these places can be *hellish* but they’re best used as trampolines. so jump very, very high to compensate for everything else. i will keep writing; please keep reading x

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oh yes i jumped alright. graduated in 2017. finished grad school at another place just like it in 2023. we have to jump but also keep our hearts and our roots.

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exactly. roots and hearts. even as we take on the characteristics of these places, we must remain true to ourselves.

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I LOVED THIS. I did not go to Harvard but I did attend private school in DC and I saw/grew up around a lot of similar dynamics. The game is still the same.

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the game will forever be the game! nothing changes, which is what makes it all absurd.

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This was such an intriguing read. Almost felt like I was reading an alternate version of gossip girl. I have never been in elitist environments as such but hearing stories about how these people move is truly fascinating to say the least. Like you said, a reflection of broader society

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