It’s a strange, strange world

'On Merit', George:

This letter is a desperate plea to a university selector from a matriculant to be accepted as a veterinary student. Her grandfather shared the letter with us:

At the risk of being labelled opportunistic, I appeal to you to consider my application as a loyal 17-year-old South African. I do not expect any preferential treatment, however, having said that, I humbly request you to look at my CV and results in respect of actual performance relating to my studies regarding my application. Suffice to say, I am passionate when it comes to animal care and I have often been referred to as a caring human being. I have read, heard, and my parents have shared with me the atrocities of apartheid and our past, and, as a young South African, I am very open-minded about the many issues that we face. Therefore, an issue such as transformation should not be seen as a stumbling block for me. Hence I request in earnest that my application should be viewed with the same abundance mentality which I possess, where race, gender and colour is of secondary importance.