Eastwood Academy

Chapter 6: The Committee

Art History seems to go way faster than usual, probably because I'm so anxious about what Amanda will say about my lackluster GPA. Eastwood Academy is an elite school filled with kids who have money, connections, and good grades. I, however, have none of those things.

To say my grades were not my priority for the last two years is an understatement. I barely scraped by, and the reason that I did without having to repeat a grade is because a couple of my teachers took pity on me and gave me -C's instead of D's and F's. But how could I take the time to do something as trivial as schoolwork while my mother was wasting away before my eyes? From the moment she was diagnosed with cancer, there was an invisible clock, its hands ticking away the time I would have left with her.

I skipped school so regularly that the person at the attendance office stopped asking for reasons for my absence. My father tried at first to make me sit in school five days a week, but what was he going to say? High school is more important than spending time with your mother when you know she's about to die? We both knew that wasn't true.

So now here I am, shouldering my backpack, on my way to hear how minimal my chances of getting into college are at a school I'm attending only because, thanks to my father, I'm a legacy kid. He happened to be best friends with the head of the board and was able to pull the "Brooklyn's mother had cancer. Otherwise, she would have been a good student. Please help my kid not throw her life away" card.

I know that I'm not dumb. I have potential, and other paths aside from college could make me happy and lead to a fulfilling life. But listening to all the kids here talk about their 5.0 GPAs, all the extracurricular activities they participate in, and what Ivy League schools they plan on applying to makes me feel like I swallowed something with legs that's now crawling around in my stomach. How on earth will I ever catch up?

When I reach the administration office, I push the door open. A wave of cool air greets me, soothing the late August heat. Two minutes later, I'm sitting in the waiting room, trying not to fidget or ruminate about what Amanda will say.

The door opens, letting out another student, Amanda Stanton, who walks out behind him. She has that polished and preppy look about him that most of the student body here has. The one that says I was raised with money, but her smile is friendly enough to put me at ease.

"Hi Brooklyn, welcome to Eastwood," Amanda says warmly.

"Thanks, it's nice to meet you in person," I say. Amanda and I met several times on Zoom over the summer to help me prepare for the transition.

"How has your first day been so far? Are you settling in okay?" Amanda asks as we walk into her office. I look around the office as she speaks, taking in my surroundings. A mini jaguar, our school's mascot, sits on the dark polished wood of her desk next to rows of college brochures for all the best schools in the country. The office itself is immaculate. The dark green carpeted floor, a signature staple in all Eastwood administrative offices, feels plush beneath my feet.

"It's a little overwhelming," I admit, as she walks behind her desk, and I take a seat opposite from her.

"I'm sure it is, but give it some time, and I'm sure you'll settle in just fine," she assures me. In the meantime, I will do everything possible to get you into a great school."

"Thank you," I say fervently.

"I was just reviewing your transcripts. You've got a steep hill to climb with your grades, but your SAT score is strong, which is great. Unfortunately, your extracurricular activity is also insufficient, so let's get you settled in and active as part of the Eastwood community. This school is known for instilling a strong value of hard work and ethics in its students. All seniors must complete ten hours of community service, which will look great on your college application. We have you in all the best classes, and now all that's left to do is get you onto a school committee. I know just the one for you," she says enthusiastically.