Admissions

We were practicing for the game. We practiced daily after school! I had volunteered to bring sports back to our school, because of the lack of funding in our school, sports and art classes were discontinued. Some of us who needed an extra push in order to thrive, felt that we needed to take the matter in our own hands. There I was an unknown Junior walking to the principals office to ask for permission to solicit business and neighborhood clubs for funding. He, at first laughed at me and said: "What about the C grade that you got in Math? Are going to go around soliciting for an A grade too?"

I acted shy and insisted that it was to help me and many others like me focus if we can have something that will make us be confident and noticeable. He wasn't sure and he begrudgingly signed my permission slip. After school, I drove with my friends around town knocking on every business doors any door where they would open and stated my case. By the end of the three months that we had set aside as our deadline, we had enough not only to buy equipment and uniforms, we could even lease a building and pay staff for a year. It was a successful fund raising event I must say.

Every Fridays we stayed behind and practiced with plans to go to games that were designated for every Saturdays. That is how I made a name for myself.

One day, while we were at practice, a gentleman from the neighboring school approached me with something very important that he wanted to discuss with me! He was sent by his dad who had just been selected to be a head master of a new boarding school across town. He had forms that he wanted me to fill out and mail to the school. His dad was in one of my afternoon mixers for fundraising, and was very impressed. So impressed that he wanted me to try for the new boarding school for girls. Not only would I be able to help them boost their sports department but it will be a sensible marriage of sports and female education. I was blown away. It was fun to come up with ideas which are community based, but to enter a larger conversation about issues that go beyond just one's interest can be intimidating. Title IX, equity for women and girls in sports was not my goal or aim. I just wanted to have an extracurricular activity after school so that I did not have to go home to an empty house. Imagine my surprise that it lend me eyes and ears of what I considered to be the elite.

Weeks passed and I got a phone call from the school where I had applied not really hoping to be taken seriously, but to possibly not be involved in a scam. The principal wanted to meet with me and my parents to 'interview' us as part of the admission process. I was slightly surprised because in my mind I thought that I would be a shoe in, for sure.

My parents stood at the door in my room.

"are you serious about wanting to go to a boarding school? You do know that they will not be any visitations. We won't see you until the holidays. We probably will forget about you!" My mom said chuckling.

"yeah mah, I want to try. Will you go to the interview with me?' I said wistfully.

On the following Monday, my parents drove me to the school and my dad who for years had not worn his hat brought his hat with him. I wondered what he was up to and said nothing because I was afraid he would turn the car around and return home. No Interview, and no boarding school, just like that! We were all quiet in the car until we reached the principal's office. A secretary asked us to wait in his office, he had just stepped out for coffee.

"Good Afternoon! We have been expecting you. How was the drive up here? Adventurous, I hope. Let me see where you are coming from." he looked at my application and read my address out loud. "Oh there, I know where you live. We drive past there when we are shopping for beads. My wife likes everything made out of beads. I have a room with just all things made out of beads that she buys but never use or wear or showcase. She just likes to buy beads and keeps them. I don't know why. Hmmm, I will ask her about that." he said as if he had forgotten that we were in the room.

"I know what you mean, my wife here will not walk by a basket. We have baskets on the walls, in the garage in every cupboard. Anyway, it is nice to meet you." My dad said putting his hat on his knee.

"Oh yes, Good to meet you too. I just wanted to meet you and know who you are. I will be going over the application with the selecting committee later on this afternoon. We are working on it. I have to explain to your parents that we were very impressed with your efforts to raise funds for sports in your school. Most of our students who will be attending our boarding school are students who have exceled in their school and in their neighborhoods. All of them were hand picked. And that is why your daughter was approached by my son with an application."

"We appreciate your consideration." my dad said.

"How well do you think you will do in our school?" the principal looked at me.

"I believe that I will do well because I have overcome many obstacles. Sports has helped me learn to focus and I am no longer shy. I can express myself well which speaks to my communication skills. I also think that I am ready to be challenged." I said trying to be impressive. Of Couse all of these lines were rehearsed over a period of days in front of a mirror. For a moment there I thought that I was not going to be able to say them.

"Well, I think that we will be able to know by the end of the week whether you will join us in our school or not. I will call you by the end of the week. Will that be okay?" the principal asked looking at my parents.

"Oh yes that should be fine." my dad said.

"Thank you for meeting me. Let me walk you out of my office it can be tricky." the principal walked us out and shook all of our hands and we left.

We did not think much of it. Infact we felt that it was an outing because the meeting was so informal. Looking at the school's catalogue and seeing what the plans for the school were, I was not ready to set myself up for something that might not happen to me until I knew for sure that I was admitted.... And I was admitted!

My mom was the lucky one to answer the phone, was so excited she could not stop smiling.

We had to shop for all the necessitates that I would need while at school. I had to get immunizations and a doctor's well care check up. I had to have my hair cut a certain style only accepted by the school. I had to meet my mentor who was an older gentleman who would be my first point of contact at school should I have a problem. He had to tell me what his expectations were, when to call him and when not to call him. We were told to give our friends cards with instructions of how to reach us at school should they miss us. If they showed up unexpected, they were notified that they would be arrested. My friends hated the new me with rules and restrictions. I was not sure what I was getting myself into.

When the day came for me to leave for school, my parents wore the same outfits that they wore on the day of my interview. My dad and my sisters all piled up in two cars and my brother drove the other car while my dad drove me and my mom. The school was packed. Parents, relatives and students stood around as if lost because it was a brand new school and there were no clicks. We received our instruction sheets and notices of where to check in. Room assignments and class lists were all set aside. those who did not have immunizations and doctor's clearances had to see and onsite nurse, who recommended that they return with a doctor's clearance. Which meant that they could not be admitted to the rooms. They could leave their possessions and return once they had all the appropriate paperwork.

Introductions were made and those who felt that they clicked immediately bonded. I was standing around talking to anyone who would talk to me. I found the list of my classes. I noticed that I was assigned a class in classical music, but I had never ever taken a class in classical music before. I longed to sit in that class, curious to know if I will understand it at all. Others too expressed their surprise about their being assigned to attend a class in classical music. One of the students who stood next to us said" We should not be disagreeable, let's see what they have to offer first. Maybe they think that we are a bunch of idiots. We earned our right to be here. If anything we are the ones who will set the foundation of this school." The bell rang and my parents and all other parents had to leave. We were sad to say the least. I stood around and watched my parents leave me with strangers!