One Shots and Challenges

The Gifted Academy - Part 1

I can't believe that they finally added a new bus to this route.  I was so tired of sitting 3 (or more) people to a seat for the hour long bus ride.  Now I get to stretch out a bit.  I still have a seat mate, but I am not being forced to sit with Cheyanne since she is on the other bus now.  This is going to be a great day.  I love my school!  The only bad part was the bus ride and now that is taken care of too.  An hour each way is still really long expecially since my stop is the only stop, but it is worth it.  

This is the first year of the new Gifted Academy.  There are only about 100 kids in the school and right now there is only ninth and tenth grades.  We were told that the teachers needed at least 3 years to teach the special curriculum.  My class will be the first class to have all 4 years here.  While we have regular classes like English, Geometry, Biology, and History, I also get to take several special classes.  We have block semesters, but one class is all year long.  I am so lucky that my art class is my full year class.  This semester I have Advanced English, Geometry, Spanish, Art and Physical Training.  Most of the classes are like you would normally have, but my Spanish, art and Physical Training classes are a bit different.  Maybe I should go back to the Spring when I first was asked to apply. My name is Dana and here is my story.

Spring flashback:

My counselor asked me to come to her office.  I knew it was about my schedule because I was still unsure about what classes I wanted to take when I entered High School.  When I walked into Ms. Lemon's office, I saw my brother, Donovan, and twelve other boys and girls, along with a man in a gray suit with a red tie.  He was tall and had black frame glasses.  His hair was perfectly styled. In fact, just about everything about him screamed "perfection".  I sat down next to my brother and looked at him.  He didn't know what was going on either. We were able to communicate with each other without talking.  It was a twin thing.  I know that we aren't any closer genetically than any other siblings since we are faternal twins and not identical, but I think sharing a womb made us closer mentally.

Ms. Lemon's introduced the man as Mr. Blackbourne and explained that he was in charge of a new school in the county for student who excelled at different things.  My brother and I have  both been in the Gifted and Talented Program since we were in Kindergarten.  School came easy to both of us.  I was better at math, but he was better at languages.  Our parents didn't want us to skip any grades, but did allow us to participate in independent study.  

Mr. Blackbourne talked to us about applying for a spot in his school.  He likened it to applying for college.  We had to fill out an application, write an essay, and come to the school on a Saturday to take a test. He explained that the school was different than other high schools because we were allowed to explore other subjects.  He gave each of us brochure on the school to show our parents.  Since it was a public school, it was still free for us to attend, which was good since Donovan and I would not be allowed to go if we had to pay.

Donovan and I walked home silently that afternoon, but we discussed the school in our heads.  A lot of people thought we were weird because we always knew what the other was thinking.  Like I said, it is a twin thing.  We both wanted to try to get into the school  and knew that I would not be allowed to go without him.  Our parents were very protective of me since I was the youngest and the only girl.  I was actually a surprise. Our mom couldn't have an ultrasound because of the shrapnel in her back from her time in the military and our heart beats were in sync with each other during every appointment.  I was a surprise and I think that my parents are happy with me, but I am not always certain.  Don't get me wrong, they love me and allow me to participate in different things, but I usually have to be with one of my brothers.

We had to wait until dinner to talk to our parents.  Jaxon, who is just 11 months older than us, also had a brochure.  Apparently, Mr. Blackbourne also talked to the ninth graders at his school.  It was decided that the three of us would apply, but if the boys didn't get accepted, I would not be allowed to go.  While I felt it was not fair, I couldn't express this without consequences.