Pencils

Today in MSE 2001 I learned about polymorphic crystals. My professor was explaining that there are certain substances that when crystallizing will form into totally different crystal structures under varying conditions. For instance, Carbon can form into diamond when crystallizing, but in contrast it can also form into graphite, which is "what cheap pencils are made out of," can you imagine not being able to use a diamond pencil? It just breaks my heart to think of children living in third world countries who have to go through life using graphite pencils. I know how truly lucky I am to live in a country in which I don't have to suffer the misfortune of fumbling through compositions with the burden of a graphite pencil.