New Girl

Chapter 29

The next couple of weeks moved smoothly. In English, my teacher started talking about the right way of writing a college essay. They said that the colleges needed to know who we were as well as the stories and experiences that shaped us into who we were. The only thing about that is I'm not sure I know who I am. I don't know what I want to do or be.

Hell I'm not even sure I actually want to go to college, but they gave us a bunch of prompts colleges use to choose from and made us start a rough draft and told us that before the end of the school year we would have to read our essays in front of the class and tell the class what college we're going to.

Matt has been stuck between two schools for the longest time and because he wants to go into graphic design or software engineering. Because it's Matt he can't make up his mind. He's got his eyes set on UC Irvine though but knowing him he'll end up at Temple and follow the legacy route.

Jay, being student body president and head of the debate club, has been praying to get into NCAT or Morehouse. Those are his only two choices and he's wanted to go to a HBCU since he was a little kid. He has a high GPA and could get into any school he wants but he wants to go down to Atlanta to be near his older brother. He's majoring in business marketing so it really depends on who gives him the most money.

Immanuel has a full ride scholarship to play basketball at University of North Carolina so he's taking the opportunity because he wants to make it to the league. He has the ability and the talent to go pro and we always make fun of him for not applying himself the way he should so hopefully he'll make it. He knows that we're rooting for him always and he talks about getting us tickets for his games. His major is exercise science. It's basic for most sports players but a great backup.

Me, Zay and Sam are all in the same boat. Sam doesn't want to go to a four year college so he said trade school to work force works for him. We hope he gets out of the city and travels somewhere else. Isaiah said he's gonna apply in state and out of state and wherever he gets in he's gonna go and I don't know if furthering my education is the right move for me.

Yana on the other hand is really into fashion design and got into Fashion Institute of Technology for fashion design. She really wants to have her pieces to walk the Met Gala and NYFW. She always talks about how it's her dream to she her clothes on runways. I'm really excited for my friends but the conversation always feels awkward when they start asking me questions.

I know I should be excited to graduate high school and begin my life. My mom always tells me that college is the best years of your life but I don't think that's what I want. Don't get me wrong I'm extremely proud and ecstatic for my friends and what their going to make of their lives but I don't think I've ever thought about what I wanted to be when I grew up. High school drained so much out of me and I know if I went to college I would just be stressed and have debt plus I don't even know what I want to do with my life.

I text Malichi to see if he wants to hang out later. I wait for his response when Zae walks up to me. I've been avoiding Zae after hearing about him being an abuser but I feel like I need to talk about it with him. I never seem to find a good time since he stays around Naliyah, I guess they're getting heavy, which makes me feel weird since we had sex. Plus everytime we do have a good time to talk Naliyah shows up. I don't see her anywhere though so I acknowledge him when he says my name.

"Mari."

"He's alive." I laugh and give him a side hug

He sucks his teeth "Man don't be like that."

"Nah I'm serious I haven't seen you by yourself in weeks. I guess things getting heavy wit Liyah."

He laughs so loud people in the hallway turn to look at us. I look at him with a straight face. I don't know why he thinks I'm joking.