Life By Zach:

Lauren. That’s the pretty brunette’s name. I just got done working out and was jogging home, and my mind drifted like it usually does when I am running. She’s an environmental science major, which I think is really cool. She’s into animals and saving the environment and helping the world, which isn’t something you really hear people my age talk that much about. Her dad is a veterinarian and so she always grew up with one or two stray cats or dogs that came to temporarily stay at her house until they found a forever home. I like the way she talks about animals and the environment, her whole face lit up and she got really passionate.  I really respect when someone knows what they want out of life, when they have a passion and work hard towards that goal. I am the same way in my life and I know that I really want that quality in someone that I date. Clearly Beth didn’t fit that bill.  

This week I made my list of medical schools I want to visit in New York. Obviously NYU is at the top of my list, and I am pretty confident I will be able to get in. I met with my career counselor the other day to go over my transcripts and she said that as far as my grades go, I was doing very well. She did point out that I should be gathering more clinical experience, because that’s something that med schools really look for in a well rounded applicant. So, she set me up with an interview tomorrow at the local hospital for an internship. I’m very excited about it!

After my workout, I decided to run over to the bookstore to buy an MCAT study book. I know I don’t have to take the test quite yet, but I want to start reading about it so I have a good idea what to expect. I am not the best test taker, but I have noticed that for me, the key is knowing what to expect. I would much rather start taking practice tests now than be faced with a moment of terror when I actually show up and take the real exam.  As I was leaving the bookstore, I felt my phone vibrating and I searched around in my gym bag for it.  When I finally found it, I saw the buzz was a notification from Facebook. “Lauren Rosenthal has sent you a friend request.” Hmm. Interesting. We had exchanged numbers last night; I was a little bit weary after the Beth fiasco but Lauren seems so down to earth and sweet that I figured I shouldn’t be closed off to hanging out with her.  I accepted her friend request and browsed through a couple of her pictures,   they all seemed to connect with who she said she was; there were several pictures of her and her family, of Lauren at the beach with her dog, and of her internship at the Center for Biological Diversity’s Endangered Species in Oregon last summer where she helped conduct research on how to help end the extinction of several species.  I was about to text her when I decided to simply call her instead; I thought this might be the more chivalrous thing to do.  She seemed surprised that I called, but also pleased, and we agreed to meet for dinner on Saturday. I told her I would pick her up at eight, and got home feeling pretty good about my day overall.

That evening, shortly before going to bed, I spotted a pile of unopened mail sitting on my desk that I had yet to go through. I was expecting a letter from NYU Medical in regards to visiting dates, so I jumped up and started sorting through the envelopes. I stopped short when I spotted a very official looking envelope from the University's Disciplinary Committee.

“What is this??” I thought. “Must be a mix-up.”

I tore open the letter and as I started to read it, my heart felt like it stopped working.  The words started to get blurry and all I saw were phrases here and there:

“Your coursework contains material that is problematic with regard to the rules on plagiarism and will be investigated further.”

“Clear cases of plagiarism will be passed on to the Executive Dean.”

I tried to compose myself and think what this could possibly be about. Then I saw a date and time for a decision hearing on the matter, which was scheduled for two days from now, and the other attendee at the meeting: Andrew Johnston.

Oh my God. The paper I gave him.