[minor editing done on jan 21st '19]
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11:57am
los angeles, CA
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When we arrived at the courtyard for the ceremony, students were slowly trickling in. There was a agreeably small amount of chairs lined up in front of the stage.
"This looks like a family function, not a opening ceremony.''
"There's not many people that qualify to study here, you know. I don't think it's more than 70 new students every year."
"Oh, right."
"You really got 70 family members?"
"Oh my god, no!" I laughed, "Or maybe. I have a lot of family back in Haïti."
When majority of the seats were filled I looked around. There's a lot of white people and Asians, but I didn't see any black people. Disappointing. It would be nice to have someone to relate to on that level.
Suddenly everybody hushed down to make room for the live orchestra, which started playing the national anthem. Then two men and a lady made their entrance on the stage and everybody starts clapping. The ceremony started with a motivating speech and later on we got informed on other matters. If this was a class I would've been making so many notes right now. But I figured I wouldn't have to worry, since I had Alessa.
As the ceremony came to an end and everybody got up and started clapping again. Everything about this school seems so elite. And it was making me nervous.
Alessa hopped up, clapping along lazily. ''Glad that's over.''
''I thought it was pretty interesting.''
Maybe it's because Alessa has already gone through everything last year and I hadn't. The speech was really motivating.
The rest of the day we spent getting a tour of the school and pretty much getting familiar with everything. After the somewhat productive day, I returned to the dorms with Alessa, we had some small talk and dinner and while later I fell asleep.
•
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6:00am
los angeles, CA
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My alarm clock woke me at six in the morning.
Alessa apparently wasn't bother by my noisy alarm clock, so it took me a good while to rouse her. I dragged mysef into the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash up. Cold showers every morning, without fail.
Then I got dressed, I put on my puma track uniform. I slid my pink puma hoodie on top along with thick grey sweats and my new balance shoes. I undid my cornrows, pulling my hair into a low bun. After finishing my hair, I dumped my blue track spikes into my duffle bag along with a bottle of vitamin water. My breakfast consisted of special K cereal, some grapes and water. Alessa joined me in the kitchen dressed up and ready as she pours herself a bowl of cereal too.
''It's so early.'' she huffed, her mouth full.
I popped a grape in my mouth and look at her. "Well get used to it, you're an athlete now. ''
And yes, that did include the cold showers, the early mornings, and the boring balanced breakfasts.
She whines harder and collapses on the kitchen counter dramatically. ''I want waffles. And pancakes. With lots of syrup and butter."
I giggled at her childishness, ''I'm sorry girl, those days are finished."
I was already used to the routine since I was on the track team in high school. I had an okay GPA, though. So I feel like it's going to be a challenge now. I got in here by scholarship, so they obviously have certain expectations that I have to live up to.
