The Makings: Chapter 3 (Preview)

The rush of warm air inside the lobby was a welcome escape from the wrath of the winter wind outside. Freshly waxed floors reflected the fluorescent light coming from the ceiling above along with a decorated with a sign declaring, “Welcome Back Panthers!” Trophy cases dotted the walls showcasing the athletic and scholastic achievements of years past. One thing I could be proud of was the fact that along with the fifty other students whose names were posted in the one tiny section allotted for academic merit; my name was engraved on a tiny golden plaque for making a perfect score on the SAT. 1

After my brother’s death my main goal in life became getting out of Mobile and I saw college as the perfect opportunity. So, I began immersing myself into my studies almost obsessively – a welcome distraction from the thoughts I knew would immediately bombard me the moment I wasn’t focusing on some type of problem or story. Luckily, my hard work paid off big when I took the SAT in early October of last year. I was one of two students in my grade level to receive a perfect score. A few weeks after getting my results, I also began receiving mail and phone calls from colleges all over the country thanks to the enthusiasm and work of my guidance counselor. To my chagrin, I didn’t start applying for any colleges or scholarships until December of last semester and I still had a long list of Universities I wanted to apply to before I made any final decisions. 2

A more immediate impedance in my plan was the fact that I still had one last semester to go and with my schedule in hand, I mentally kicked myself as I noted my first class of the day was Honors English 12. I quickened my pace slightly at this realization and rounded the corner that would take me to the building that housed Mrs. James classroom. In my nostalgic mood that morning I completely forgot to grab my copy of Hamlet from off my desk. In any other class that wouldn’t have mattered, but in Mrs. James class, I was sure to catch a lecture not just for being late, but for also forgetting to bring in my book.3

The one time I forgot to do an assignment in her class last semester, she actually made me leave class until I came back with it. Mrs. James was by far the toughest teacher I’d ever had but she was good and she was only tough because she expected so much out of her students – especially those who chose to take her honors classes. 4