That being said, it seems like a pretty interesting story, good for him for fighting through his problems!
Given the informal context, reminiscing about first job interviews with friends, I feel that the author wanted to share that setting with us as readers.
It may not have been the same decision you would have made, but take it as a chance to learn a new perspective rather than opening with hard criticisms.
How many other people can do the same thing?
In fact, it's actually irrelevant in this case that the writer made mistakes and could be better (all of us could be better). The most impressive point of the story is he showed enough courage to write to someone at the height of the VC industry and get a response and invite for a meeting.
Props to the lad.
I think it was quite clearly intended as sarcasm.
the "lol" adds nothing to the first sentence
I can agree with you there though, but mostly because I don't like "lol" as a word and not because of the use of sarcasm.
That being said, Page should learn to be a better writer. Take this, for example:
As for my right ear, I was born deaf in it lol. This was not a fun experience to say the least.
Being born deaf in one ear is rarely a cause for "laughing out loud," and the "lol" adds nothing to the first sentence. "To say the least" is a cliché and should be eliminated.
Anyone could be guilty of these writing sins and in a large enough sample of my own writing I'm sure someone could find clichés. Nonetheless they're pervasive enough to detract from the piece. It wouldn't be a bad idea to get Write Right! (my favorite short, pithy writing book) and William Zissner's On Writing Well.