Do I love the truth?

Orientation was today. The question raised in one of the discussions following the tour was- Above all else, do you love the truth? I have to admit that I am a raving narcissist. I find myself walking around the campus, or sitting at a table and while I'm enjoying the people's company around me, I'm also constantly thinking of the ways that I am better or worse than them. And when I see someone whom I deem to be better, more well-rounded, more intelligent, better looking than I am I feel a twinge of loathsomeness sneak into my consciousness. I want to better than, to be the best and it seems the task would be much easier if everyone else sucked a little more. I catch myself dreaming of people's faults, of the ways that I excel past them. And so the question, Do you love the truth? will take on a whole new level of pertinence when I enter my first seminar tonight. If I look at the conversation as a competition then I will miss the point. The robe of my ego will get wrapped around my legs and I will fall clumsily, silently to the ground when the conversation moves to a point I can't grasp, or when I interject a comment another person has said already. It is not me or them who wins a conversation. It is something entirely seperate. It is the truth that ultimately is the victor of a good conversation. But... this place is great and it is full of people who know that they know what they do not know. Hopefully, I can let go of "Ben" and find the truth.
Also, I have a friend who has informed me that he has a cello, an extra cello, that he would be willing to let me use. Furthermore, he will sit down with me and teach me, as best he can, to play... I have another who wants to help me learn to read sheet music. So... I am set.
Did I tell you about the piano freckles that this school has? They are EVERYWHERE!!!