Hey You

Chapter 3

Earlier that morning, Nella was one of the first students to line up and pick up a schedule. She came extra early to beat the crowd, and while waiting for the bell to signal that it was time to head to class, she decided to speak to one of the school's academic counselors.

"Nice line up of classes, Janella," Ms. Schafer, the counselor, nodded in approval. "Your grades have been consistently great since the start of high school. Almost all of your classes are AP which would look good on your college application. Keep up the good work."

Nella smiled nervously. "Thank you, Ms. Schafer."

The counselor returned Nella's schedule back to her. "Academic wise, you're all set. So long as you stay on top of your classes."

Nella nodded. "Yes, Ms. Schafer."

"However—" the counselor looked at her.

"'However'?" Nella repeated as if it was a question. She wanted to know if she heard the counselor right.

"Those that get into college don't just rely on grades, Janella. Extracurricular activities, community service, things that show the college who you are and what you do that makes you a good and special candidate to gain entry to their school: you need those in order to get into the school you want," the counselor explained.

"I did golf during my sophomore and junior year. I volunteer at our local soup kitchen every chance I get," Nella listed, hoping those things would be enough.

"Good, good, but I think you need to do more. As far as being active in school, you haven't really done much to socialize with your peers, let alone be of service to them. Maybe you can start by joining a club, offering mentorship or tutoring. Anything you can do to show the college that you're not just a good student but also a good citizen that they would be proud to have attending their school," the counselor further explained. She looked at Nella and leaned forward and patted her hand. "Look, I know you're very much an introvert. I see you eat lunch either in the library or here in the guidance office. I never really saw you hanging out with the other students."

Nella swallowed. "I don't know that many people here."

Ms. Schafer nodded. "I know, but maybe it's time to put yourself out there and get to know some people. This is your senior year. You know you're good with the academics, I think it's time for you to make memories, make high school not just about school and grades and awards. It's your last chance to be a kid, make it worth your time."

Nella stared at the counselor's desk and stayed quiet.

Ms. Schafer stared at the uneasy student in front of her. "You're good at academics, so why don't you think of this as a class—like an elective: the extracurricular class. Maybe if you look at it that way, it'll motivate you to be more out there. It can be rewarding. You just have to try. Maybe you'll even find it easier than you thought. It would increase your chances getting into the college you want if you not only show them who you are as a student but also who you are as a person."

Nella nodded. "Thank you, Ms. Schafer."

The counselor stood from her chair. "That's what I'm here for, Janella. You can come talk to me anytime. You know where to find me. Alright, there goes the bell. Good luck out there, and also—have fun, okay?" She gave her a quick pat on the shoulder.

Nella forced a smile. "Thank you, again."

As she headed for her first class, a young girl who seemed to be a freshman looked totally lost not knowing where to find her class. Nella saw herself in her. "Hi, do you need help?" She asked after she approached her.

"Yeah, I have the map and everything, but I don't know, it's—it's confusing," the girl frowned.

"That's okay. I was like that too the first time I came here. Where are you heading?" Nella tried to be helpful.

"Spanish class, Ms. Edy," the girl shyly replied.

"Oh, no wonder you didn't know where to go. All the foreign language classes are over there," Nella pointed across the quad.

"All the way over there?" The girl frowned.

"Yes, and if you hurry, you'll make it on time," Nella assured her.

"Thank you so much," the girl smiled a little. She gave Nella a quick wave while she was headed to class.

Nella waved back as she watched the young girl sprint across campus. She checked the time and gasped out loud. "Oh crap," she headed to the opposite direction where the girl she helped had gone and prayed to God she won't be late for her first class.

She was a few feet away when she saw the teacher close the door after the second bell rang. "No, no, no," she panted and hurried, hoping to make it on time.

This was how they did the tardy sweep: a warning bell rings signalling for the students to go to class, then a second bell rings. When that second bell goes off, the students must be in class as the teacher locks the doors and refuses entry to the tardy. Then a couple of security guards riding a golf cart do their rounds, handing detention slips to those who arrived late and got locked out of their classes. It was supposed to encourage students to be punctual. However, many of them oppose the idea. They think the campus is too big and the classes are too far apart; five minutes of leeway to go to and from each class is just not enough.

Nella stood nervously by the door. Students aren't allowed to enter the class until after the guards have given them a detention slip. She could cry right about now. This was not how she wanted to start the year, but it was too late—literally.

A few minutes later, the security guard rolled by and stopped directly in front of her. "I.D., please," she requested while getting out of the golf cart. However, Nella tried to explain herself. "Ma'am, I'm so sorry. I just came from the guidance office and came across a girl who was trying to find her class, and I just stopped quickly to help. I really tried to run to class—"

The security guard tilted her head like she was used to listening to the students' many alibis. She has heard all kinds of excuses from doing her job for more than twenty years. "Physics? Right?" She asked while pointing at the door behind Nella.

"Yes, ma'am," Nella answered shakily.

"So you're a junior? Senior?" The guard asked.

"Senior, ma'am," Nella replied.

"So you know the school very well," the guard assumed.

Nella swallowed. She already saw it coming.

"Where's your note?" The guard expected the student to have a note from the counselor's office to excuse her from being tardy.

"I don't have one," Nella couldn't look the guard in the eyes.

"You know the school, I assume you also know the rules. You need to have a note in order for me not to write you a detention," the guard claimed.

Nella tried to hold back tears. She knew the guard was right, and it was a lost cause trying to argue her way out so she just nodded.

"Just doing my job," the guard reasoned while she scribbled on a slip. "30 minutes detention. Room 341, after school," she said as she handed Nella the slip of doom.

After the guard left, Nella hesitated to knock on the door. She thought it was embarrassing to enter the room by herself since she was the only one who arrived late to class.

She tried to compose herself, then she finally knocked. The teacher let her in. She could feel the burn of the other students' stares. She felt extremely embarrassed to say the least. She didn't like the attention and hated that she had to do the walk of shame while trying to find an available seat. She felt like all eyes were on her, so she tried her hardest to make herself look small.

She sat at the empty seat closest to the wall. It was barely the first class, but she already wanted the day to be over. Detention. The word echoed inside her head taunting and haunting her. In all her years in high school, she has never gotten a detention. Nella cried on the inside but tried not to show it on the outside. Ngayon pa talaga, Nella, she scolded herself in her head. Ngayon ka pa talaga pumalpak. It's freaking senior year! Detention?! Who gets a detention on the very first day of school?!