Of course, none of this equates to an actual physical disability, as in Hornstine's case. What really bugs me is that her parents are refusing to disclose the details of her disease: what it's called, how exactly it works, some shred of evidence that will prove that it is in fact a real disease. They say that her chroic fatigue prevents her from normal schooling. But for all we know, it could be some imaginary disease, or worse yet, Bribing the School Board with Hard Cash Syndrome. (Hornstine is the daughter of a moderately wealthy state judge. What happened to the archetypical suffering yet humble disabled person? I disdain Hornstine's blind ambition, because she's unwilling to share the fruits of success. Isn't it enough that she is valedictorian? I suppose that it takes some of the sheen off the title to have to share it with someone, but hey, fucking get used to it. That's life. If I had it my way, my school would have chosen two valedictorians, one regular and one magnet, and Hornstine would have been honorary valedictorian, if anything. I mean, does she even qualify as a full-time student at her school? The article says that she spends half her day at home. She apparently participates in school activities, such as going on her senior class trip to Disney World, but otherwise, her situation smacks of home-schooling to me. Because of the negative attention Hornstine's been attracting, Harvard is supposedly reconsidering her admission.

Damn overachievers. And I can only say that because I am one.