So a few years back, I was at college, trying to be both James Dean and Noam Chomsky at the same time (it's more easily said than done). Had a few too many drinks with a friend of mine, we got a bit rowdy (read: quite rowdy) and hit campus with a pair of baseball bats and no inhibitions whatsoever.

Six digits of property damage (and a newspaper article) later, I found myself in the back of an sickly blue and far too clean undercover Ford Focus with two police officers up front. I was extremely cooperative with the police and courts, attended a 21-day program as part of my defense (I don't have a substance abuse problem, but it looked really good for the judge and my PO), enrolled (and did well) in part-time classes at a different university (where, after getting my shit together and being accepted as a matriculated student, I have a 3.9 GPA and am being considered for an accelerated Master's in IR). Also served in Americorps and spent a while working with people with disabilities.

Ultimately, the case was CWOF'ed for a year, and I was placed on probation during that year. I kept my nose clean, and ultimately, all charges were dropped.

I'm wondering what sort of impact this saga would have on my suitability for the Foreign Service. I've definitely learned a hell of a lot from it, and as strange as it sounds, I'd say that it has helped me mature as a person. Will the fact that I made an awful judgement call years ago completely preclude me from becoming an FSO?