The King's Farewell

Here's a transcription of Taylor's speech
for those unable to view the archives.

This is what I wrote for you guys:

I’m leaving today simply because I messed up. I made a stupid decision that I will regret the rest of my life. I have given contact and bank information away to a member in hopes of doing so would help me with my future education expenses and financial stability. I have encountered many different types and sources of temptation while I have been here at the Pad. And I have always done correctly and resisted them.

This time was another routine example of temptation to accept financial security. But this time, it was a different type of temptation that I haven’t encountered before and didn’t know how to handle, and let greed get the best of me. I was put at ease by being told by the member that it would all be secret, kept quiet, and that it has even been done for other fratmen in the past without anyone finding out.

This time, I didn’t know how to handle the temptation, and I turned into a different person for just a short amount of time and gave away my information, only to feel shortly after like I had done wrong and was in doubt of my decisions — regretting them horribly — wanting to reverse what I had done, but it was too late.

I wish I had had the guts to tell Leo right after it happened, what I had just did, because that’s what I felt needed to be done. But I felt like that would have gotten me a plane ticket home as well. I was put in between a rock and a hard place, and I can’t blame that on anyone but myself.

At this point, all I really had was three options: one option being no one was going to find out and I would feel guilty for who knows [how] long (probably forever for giving out the information); or I could have spoke up and came out with it to Leo before I got in too deep and potentially got sent home; or Leo would simply find out the way he didn’t want to and that was thru the member that I gave the information to and definitely get sent home. I made the wrong decision. And that is why I’m going home tomorrow.

I feel horrible for the actions I have done, and I want to sincerely apologize to all of you and to everyone associated with this company. I never wanted to seem or act like I could beat this system, or anything of that kind. I just let greed and selfishness get the best of me.

I have learned from this mistake like I have from all of my mistakes in life, and this has made me a stronger person. It’s just unfortunate that I had to learn the hard way. But sometimes that’s just how it works. We have to learn the hard way sometimes.

The Pad has made me a better, more understanding person, and I have and never will regret my decisions for coming here. This last year has been the time of my life, getting the opportunity to do so many things like travel, establish financial stability, and meet so many wonderful and interesting people. Every day I turned on my cam to start my show… [breaks down here] It’s funny because I … it wasn’t this damn hard to read the thing before I came on cam, so I’m sorry. This is really difficult. I never wanted it to end this way… never…[sobs] Let me finish the little bit I have here.

I will never forget everything the Pad has given me, and I am extremely thankful for that. I will continue my quest in education when I leave here, and one day I will be proud to let you all know that I have succeeded in school by informing Leo or by having the opportunity to tell you all myself.

I love you all very much and I always will. And I will never forget all of this and most importantly, all of you. I wish you all love, happiness, good health, and success for all of your futures and nothing but the best. This has been the time of my life, and thank you all for giving me this opportunity. God bless you all.