---
type: slide
title: National Merit
slideOptions:
controls: false
help: false
slideNumber: false
---
<!-- BEGIN SETTINGS -->
<style>
.present {
color: yellow;
text-align: left;
padding: 0 2rem;
}
.present h2 {
font-size: 70%;
text-transform: uppercase;
color: yellow;
opacity: 0.7;
}
</style>
<!-- END SETTINGS -->
[clock ticking, pencils scribbling, erasers rubbing on paper]
---
[feet shuffling, pages turning, throats clearing]
---
[classroom sounds increase in volume]
---
[roar of thunder and the patter of rain]
---
## CAMILA:
I WANT TO DIE
I want lightning to strike me so hard my body is split into a million pieces
---
and all the little pieces go flying everywhere until they’re spread across the world and smushed like little bugs over and over
---
until all the pieces of me are pressed so hard into the earth that I just melt through all the cracks down down down
---
until I’m sinking into the literal CORE and I’m dead.
---
Dead dead dead dead
---
## CISCO:
Bitch get off the floor.
---
## CAMILA:
They’re disgusting, Cisco.
---
## CISCO:
No way they’re that bad.
---
## JAX:
FIVE!
---
## JAX:
SIX!
---
## JAX:
Can we do seven?!
---
## YASH:
Uh uh
---
## CISCO:
….
shit.
---
## JAX:
Looking good, Camila.
---
## CAMILA:
Dean Gordon’s literally never had a problem with my shorts being hemmed before.
---
I confront him one time and suddenly I’m directly impacting the school’s “image”
---
## CISCO:
Asshole
---
## CAMILA:
He was looking at my ass––
---
## JAX:
He was probably just inspecting your shorts.
---
That’s his job––
---
## CISCO:
No he was definitely looking at her ass
---
## CAMILA:
He was looking at my ass.
---
So I was like
---
## CISCO:
You went OFF
---
## CAMILA:
Do you get paid to ride around in a little golf cart and check out literal minors?
---
## JAX:
You’re seventeen, not ten
---
## YASH:
Dude–
---
## CAMILA:
And you’re an asshole, not a dick?
---
## JENNY:
WOO!! Welcome everyone!!
---
## CAMILA:
FUCK JUNIOR YEAR
---
## CISCO:
Jenny?
---
You’re our senior mentor?
---
## JENNY:
Yep!
---
## CISCO:
Slay
---
## JAX:
Is that Miss Princeton?
---
## JENNY:
Hi, Jax
---
## JAX:
Yo, congratulations.
---
That’s huge.
---
## JENNY:
It’s no big deal, I mean
Likely letters from Princeton are extremely rare
---
## CAMILA:
You got a likely letter?!
---
## MELISSA:
Jenny?
---
## JENNY:
Melissa.
---
## MELISSA:
What are you doing here?
---
## CISCO:
Jenny’s our senior mentor
---
## MELISSA:
Of course…
---
## YASH:
What’s a likely letter?
---
## JENNY:
Um basically it’s when the school knows they want to accept you, so they let you know before decisions are officially released.
---
## CAMILA:
Wow.
---
## YASH:
Schools do that??
---
## JAX:
So you’re, like, their ideal student basically?
---
## JENNY:
I guess you could say that, yeah
---
## JENNY:
I still have to keep it up this year if I want the acceptance confirmed…
---
But yeah! I’m so excited to be here, guys!! Alex is amazing.
---
He gives this crazy speech on the first day of class that––
---
## MELISSA:
It’s three thirty-seven. Where’s Mr. Alvarez?
---
## JENNY:
I’m sure he’ll be here soon, he’s usually not…
I mean, he’s like.
---
A legend basically.
---
He was also a National Merit Scholar, I’m pretty sure he went to Dartmouth and he’s had all his students get National Merit Semifinalist or Commended for three years in a row––
---
## MELISSA:
He went to Cornell, not Dartmouth.
---
## JAX:
Famously the easiest Ivy to get into.
---
## JENNY:
Whatever. Same thing.
---
## JAX:
11% acceptance rate?
C’mon….
---
## JENNY:
Basically, he, like, Super knows what he’s doing.
---
All of us got Merit last year, and more than half as Semifinalists.
---
## MELISSA:
Mr. Alvarez means everything for our success.
---
## JENNY:
You can just call him Alex
---
## MELISSA:
There are over two hundred National Merit Scholars every year at
---
EVERYONE
Yale.
---
## MELISSA:
I advocated for my place in this class.
Unlike most people who would settle for whatever random tutor they’re assigned to…
---
## CISCO:
I thought they placed us using our scores?
---
## JAX:
You’re not special, Melissa.
Everyone wanted him.
---
## MELISSA:
I thought you didn’t care.
---
## JAX:
I don’t.
---
My mom does.
---
I’m pretty sure she called anyone with a title to get me in here in true Janet fashion.
---
## YASH:
Janeeeet.
---
Zucchini bread queen.
---
## CISCO:
Jenny do you know if they use our scores?
---
## JENNY:
Um...
I can ask and see–
---
## MELISSA:
I doubt it.
This is the most random collection of students I could possibly imagine.
---
## MELISSA:
I thought she didn’t go here anymore.
---
## JAX:
Maybe Principal Hughes felt bad?
---
About the Ian thing––
---
## CAMILA:
Jax SSHHHH
---
## JAX:
What?
---
I can’t say his name?
---
## CAMILA:
I thought she’d never come back to Westbrook.
---
## JENNY:
I’m pretty sure Principal Hughes made an exception?
---
## JAX:
Someone should wake her up, right?
---
Yash, tap her shoulder.
---
## YASH:
Why do I have to?
---
## JAX:
You’re closer.
---
## YASH:
Cisco’s closer! Why can’t he?
---
## CISCO:
Nuh-uh.
---
## JENNY:
Maybe we shouldn’t––
---
## ARIANA:
Ow! What the––
---
## YASH:
Sorry
Hi.
---
## MELISSA:
Where do you go to school now?
---
## ARIANA:
…
Sawgrass.
---
## CAMILA:
It’s better getting to wear what you want, isn’t it?
---
You get to, like, express yourself.
---
I fucking hate these khakis.
---
## MELISSA:
I like the uniforms. They’re like an equalizer.
---
## CAMILA:
I wish I went to public school.
---
People seem so much more fun there, like they’re just…more crazy, you know?
---
I wish Westbrook was more CRAZY.
---
Isn’t there always crazy shit going down there?
---
[A roar of thunder.]
---
## ALEX:
Apologies.
---
As you can see, I did not expect the heavy rain today.
---
## ALEX:
How was everyone’s weekend?
---
## ALEX:
Boring?
---
## ALEX:
Alright.
Let’s talk about your preliminary practice test.
---
## JAX:
My weekend was pretty great honestly.
---
## ALEX:
Excuse me?
---
## JAX:
My weekend.
It was pretty great.
Had a good time.
---
## CAMILA:
Jax…
---
## JAX:
What?
He asked how our weekend was so I answered.
---
## ALEX:
That’s great you had a good weekend, uh––
---
## JAX:
Jax.
---
## MELISSA:
Just ignore him, Mr. Alvarez.
---
## ALEX:
Please, call me Alex.
---
## CAMILA:
He does this to every teacher.
---
## JAX:
That’s right.
---
I’m extremely polite and attentive to every teacher’s questions.
---
## ALEX:
Why did you have a great weekend?
---
## JAX:
Uhhh…I got to relax.
---
Hang out with friends.
---
## ALEX:
And what did you and your friends talk about?
---
## JAX:
Uhh…
---
## ALEX:
Anything about integers?
---
## JAX:
…no.
---
## ALEX:
Quadratic formulas?
---
## JAX:
No
---
## ALEX:
Numerical representations?
---
## JAX:
No
---
## ALEX:
Manipulating polynomials?
---
## JAX:
I said I had a great weekend––
---
## ALEX:
If you’re in this course you know the time for hanging out with friends all weekend has passed.
---
You shouldn’t be going a day without the PSAT on your mind.
---
## ALEX:
Can anyone tell me what this number is?
---
## CAMILA:
…
number of students in the program?
---
## ALEX:
Nope.
---
## YASH:
One in five hundred chance we get National Merit?
---
## ALEX:
Luckily your chances are a bit better than that.
---
## MELISSA:
It’s a score.
---
## ALEX:
Correct.
---
## MELISSA:
But that’s way too low for Merit.
---
## ALEX:
This number is this class’s average score for the math section of the preliminary practice test you all took last week.
---
## MELISSA:
Are we getting our individual scores too?
---
Clearly someone in the class is weighing us down.
---
## ALEX:
We take into account everyone’s strengths and weaknesses.
---
We’re preparing as a class.
---
## MELISSA:
But we’re not taking this test as a class.
---
It doesn’t matter if two people here suck at math to me.
---
It doesn’t help me raise my score.
---
## ALEX:
These are group sessions––
---
## MELISSA:
Is no one else interested in knowing your score?
---
## YASH:
…I’d be down to know my score.
---
## CAMILA:
Same.
---
## JAX:
Same.
---
## CISCO:
Same.
---
## JAX:
You should say them out loud.
---
## ALEX:
Jenny.
---
What do you think?
---
Should they get their scores?
---
## JENNY:
Yes.
---
## ALEX:
Yes?
---
## JENNY:
Yes.
---
## ALEX:
Alright.
---
Give them their scores.
---
## JENNY:
Okay um.
---
I can call you guys up uh.
---
Jax.
---
## ALEX:
None of you performed at a National Merit level, as expected.
---
That’s why we’re here.
---
## ALEX:
Thirty days.
That’s how many days are left until the test.
---
## JENNY:
Camila.
---
## ALEX:
And Mars Prep is giving you the opportunity to use those thirty days to Turn Things Around.
---
## ALEX:
To help you Change Your Life.
---
But
You need to want it
Work
Study
---
## JENNY:
Cisco.
---
## ALEX:
Every.
Day.
---
Dinner?
Study.
---
Bus stop?
---
Study.
---
Can’t sleep?
---
Study.
---
## JENNY:
Yash.
---
## ALEX:
Everything else can wait because you have thirty days.
---
And in those thirty days you are not the president of the mock trial team
---
## JENNY:
Ariana.
---
## ALEX:
or first chair in orchestra or a model UN champion.
---
## JENNY:
Melissa.
---
## ALEX:
For the next thirty days, you are a National Merit Scholar in training.
---
Last year half my students in your position were Semifinalists.
---
Can we beat that?
---
[Clock ticks. Thunder.]
---
## JENNY:
YAAAY!! Cisco’s here!!
---
## CAMILA:
Where were you?
---
## CAMILA:
You’re running for class president?
---
## CAMILA:
Since when?
---
## JENNY:
Uh oh! That’s where the Mr. Mars poster goes!
---
## CAMILA:
Jenny, we’re in test prep, not fucking day care.
---
## MELISSA:
You know Megan’s been our class president two yours in a row already
---
## CISCO:
I was thinking about it yesterday and it just clicked.
---
This is what I’m meant to do.
---
## MELISSA:
Megan’s gonna hate this…
---
## CAMILA:
Cisco.
---
Maybe you should think about this.
---
## JENNY:
Maybe the poster can go on this wall instead?
---
## CAMILA:
I know PSAT stuff has been stressful.
---
And stuff with your dad––
---
## CISCO:
I’m serious about this.
---
## JENNY:
This is a suuuper hot wall if you think about it.
---
## CAMILA:
Maybe this is more of a next year thing?
---
Like a fun senior year prank?
---
## CISCO:
Junior year counts the most with colleges.
---
## CAMILA:
Cisco, you hate politicians.
---
## CISCO:
Everyone has their thing! Jax has debate.
---
Yash has Spanish Honor Society.
---
## YASH:
Corecto.
---
## CISCO:
Ariana plays piano.
---
Melissa has National Honor Society.
---
## MELISSA:
And Mock Trial.
---
## CISCO:
And Mock Trial.
You have––
---
## MELISSA:
And Community Service Club and Art Club.
---
## CAMILA:
You have things too, Cisco.
---
## CISCO:
Name one of my things.
---
## CAMILA:
…
You’re so funny, and everyone loves to be around you––
---
## CISCO:
Nice, I’ll be sure to put “so funny” right at the top of my college resume––
---
## CAMILA:
Cisco––
---
## CISCO:
Camila, I’m doing this with or without your support.
---
## ALEX:
What is this?
---
## JENNY:
I tried to get them to take it down, but––
---
## CISCO:
I’m running for class president.
---
## ALEX:
Take it down, Cisco.
---
## CISCO:
Can I at least leave it up for one week?
---
## ALEX:
Take it down.
---
## CISCO:
I spent all night designing that poster––
---
## ALEX:
Maybe if you spent that time on PSAT you wouldn’t need private sessions.
---
## ALEX:
Are you going to take it down or should I?
---
## ALEX:
Everyone take out your reading assignment from yesterday please.
---
## ALEX:
Alright. When we--
---
## JENNY:
Um Alex can I––?
---
## ALEX:
Oh.
---
Right.
---
Jenny has an announcement to make.
---
## JENNY:
Hi everyone! Um.
---
As a way to personalize the program more, I’ll be having one-on-ones with each of you.
---
Like a check in to see how you’re doing, what your goals are.
---
You can ask me questions, I’ll ask you questions.
---
It’ll just be me and you, super caj (shortened from "casual").
---
Just twenty minutes––
---
## ALEX:
Ten minutes
---
## JENNY:
Ten minutes of your time.
---
I’ll send an email with the sign up link, and on whatever day you sign up, I’ll pull you out of class and we’ll have our check-in outside––
---
## JENNY:
Yes, Melissa?
---
## MELISSA:
What if we don’t want to miss any of the class?
---
## JENNY:
You’ll absolutely be kept you up to date––
---
## MELISSA:
I’m sorry but I don’t know how we’re expected to prioritize a nice little chat over actually working––
---
## JENNY:
It’s not just a chat, it’s a way to reflect on your progress and maximize your time in this course.
---
## MELISSA:
How is it maximizing my time if I’m missing part of the lesson?
---
## JENNY:
If you could just have an open mind you’d realize there’s more to test taking then just lessons––
---
## ALEX:
I’m sure you two can coordinate a time outside of class.
---
## JENNY:
I just don’t get why we should be giving special treatment––
---
## MELISSA:
Special treatment?
---
## ALEX:
Enough.
---
Jenny, find a time, make it work.
---
We’re wasting precious minutes.
---
## JENNY:
…okay.
---
## MELISSA: (to Alex)
Thank you.
---
## ALEX:
So.
---
When we go into the reading section what do we do first?
---
## STUDENTS:
Read the questions
---
## ALEX:
Then?
---
## STUDENTS:
Look for the answers
---
## ALEX:
Because?
---
## STUDENTS:
You don’t need to read the whole thing.
---
## ALEX:
That’s right.
---
Waste of time.
---
## ALEX:
Yes, Ariana?
---
## ARIANA:
I actually thought it worked better to read the whole thing.
---
Specifically for question five?
---
The whole read-the-questions-first method was pretty confusing for that one.
---
## ALEX:
Did you look thoroughly for the answer?
---
## ARIANA:
I guess I just have a problem with the question, really.
---
Like I get that she explicitly states she doesn’t think there’s enough awareness about endangered sea turtles, so that fits with answer B,
---
but if you read the whole thing, her tone suggests she is placing the blame on humanity so that would be C.
---
## ALEX:
Does she ever explicitly say that?
---
## ARIANA:
Not in the same way––
---
## ALEX:
Exactly.
---
## ARIANA:
But the thing about awareness is just in one paragraph.
---
She implies that we are to blame throughout the entire essay.
---
## ALEX:
This isn’t about what’s implied.
---
## ARIANA:
Then how is that critical reading?
---
## ALEX:
I’ll take a look at that later.
---
Um.
---
Any other questions?
---
[Ariana plays a piano concerto]
---
## ALEX:
Our first perfect score of the class.
---
Congratulations, Ariana.
---
## ARIANA:
Those are my Cheetos.
---
## YASH:
Oh my god.
---
I’m.
I’m sorry.
---
I don’t know why I did that.
---
Not that it’s like inherently evil to take someone’s food, at the end of the day it’s a pretty harmless act
---
unless, like, you’re dealing with someone who has a small amount of food available to them,
---
which maybe you are and I just took away the last snack you hoped to enjoy
---
## ARIANA:
You did not take away my last snack.
---
## YASH:
That’s what I thought, which is why…which is why I did that.
---
Because no one got hurt.
---
But maybe you did get hurt, like, in a more emotional way?
---
Because even though no one got hurt hurt, it’s still wrong.
---
It’s Wrong To Take People’s Snacks Without Asking.
---
Sorry
---
## ARIANA:
It’s fine.
---
You can take more if you want.
---
## YASH:
Oh.
---
Cool.
---
## ARIANA:
Where’s your boss?
---
## YASH:
Huh?
---
## ARIANA:
Jax
---
## YASH:
Oh.
---
Well.
---
He’s not really, like, my boss.
---
It’s more of an equal footing thing.
---
I’m pretty sure.
---
But yeah, he’s coming later.
---
He has debate Tuesdays and Thursdays.
---
## YASH:
You’d think after starting this class I’d look at this problem and know where to start, but I have no idea…
---
## ARIANA:
It’s just steps.
---
## YASH:
It’s just steps.
---
## ARIANA:
And you just follow them.
---
Look.
---
## YASH:
That notebook’s awesome.
---
## ARIANA:
Thanks, it was my brother’s.
---
## YASH:
oh.
---
Yeah, that’s––
I’m.
---
Wow, I mean.
---
Not wow, just.
---
That’s––
I’m sorry.
---
That must be really hard.
---
## ARIANA:
It’s fine.
---
## YASH:
...
The headphones were his too, right?
---
Last year I would always walk past him after fifth period,
---
Laying on the bench in front of the English building,
Just staring up at the sky…
---
He had those headphones in, every time
I never really talked to him but
---
It was cool to see someone just, laying down and taking a second
I kind of miss it, seeing him there every day…
---
## JENNY:
Oh. Wow.
---
We’ve got early birds today!
---
## YASH:
How are you Jenny?
---
## JENNY:
I am.
---
Um.
---
Making it Through!
---
## JENNY:
Shit!
---
## JENNY:
Hi, Melissa.
---
## MELISSA:
Hm.
---
## CAMILA:
I can’t miss study group.
---
## CISCO:
This debate could win me the election.
---
## CAMILA:
If I don’t go to study group, I don’t get shared on the study guide for the quiz this week
---
## CISCO:
Then make your own study guide this week.
---
## CAMILA:
You don’t get it.
---
## CISCO:
Avogadro’s Number is not that complicated–––
---
## CAMILA:
You’re not in AP Chem.
---
You didn’t even take Honors.
---
## CISCO:
Excuse me?
---
## CAMILA:
I’m just saying you don't get the kind of stress––
---
## CISCO:
So I can’t comprehend the same concepts as you?
---
## CAMILA:
It’s a fact that I’m in a harder class.
---
That’s all.
---
## ALEX:
Alright.
---
## ALEX:
Thank you everyone for your timeliness, we have a lot to go over today.
---
Jenny, were you able to print out the exercise?
---
## JENNY:
Yep! Reading exercise seven––
---
## ALEX:
Seven?
---
We discussed eight yesterday.
---
## JENNY:
I thought, in your last email it––
---
## ALEX:
I’ll be right back.
---
## JENNY:
Um...
---
Okay! Why don’t we all take out the homework!
---
## JENNY:
Answer keys.
---
Why don’t we check our answers while Alex is printing?
---
## ARIANA:
I have a question on page––
---
## JENNY:
This is the right exercise oh my god uh
I’m gonna go find Alex and
I’ll be
Right back
---
## JENNY:
Please just.
---
Focus on your answers sheets.
---
---
## JAX:
Quick quick: mustache or dick?
---
## YASH:
Mustache
---
## CISCO:
Dick
---
## JAX:
Dick it is
---
## MELISSA:
We shouldn’t be touching the Mr. Mars poster…
---
## JAX:
Relax, it’s only pencil
---
## CAMILA:
Melissa’s right.
---
Mr. Mars poster is off limits even for you, Jax
---
## YASH:
Jax, maybe you should erase it.
---
If Alex comes back––
---
## JAX:
I’m not scared of Alex
---
## MELISSA:
Ha!
---
## CAMILA:
Cap.
---
## JAX:
What’s the worst he can say?
---
Oh, it’s Mr. Mars, Mr. Mars means we treat the classroom like the testing room
Study.
---
Work.
---
Practice.
---
Thirty DAYS!!!!
---
## ALEX:
Alright, we’ve got exercise eight.
---
## ARIANA:
I have a question––
---
## ALEX:
Jax.
Where’s Jenny?
---
## JAX:
Uhh printing something I think
---
## CAMILA:
Told you it was cap.
---
## JAX:
I was planning on erasing it anyways
---
## MELISSA:
Wasn’t even a good drawing
---
## JAX:
We get it, you’re in AP Art
---
## CISCO:
Camila, do you get this?
---
## CAMILA:
I don’t know I’m working on chem right now.
---
## MELISSA:
Luckily I already covered exponential equations at home a couple days ago or I’d be pretty confused too.
---
## CISCO:
You practice at home?
---
## MELISSA:
I dedicate at least an hour before bed to review the most challenging concepts.
---
I’ve gone through basically every PSAT and SAT prep book out there: Princeton Review, Barrons, Kaplan––
---
## MELISSA:
Whatever.
I don’t know why I even bother offering my study tips.
---
## JAX:
Yeah I don’t take study tips from someone with approximately one point five friends
---
## JENNY:
What?
---
## MELISSA:
You don’t know me.
---
## ARIANA:
I have a question––
---
## JAX:
Oh sorry, three point five.
---
Forgot to count Barron and Kaplan
---
## YASH:
Jax––
---
## JENNY:
Have you guys even checked your answers?
---
## MELISSA:
Why are you here?
---
You love to act like you don’t care, but still you’re here, every day––
---
## JAX:
Why is anyone here?
---
## JENNY:
I asked you guys specifically to—
---
## JAX:
Why is Cisco here?
---
Testing is clearly not his thing––
---
## CISCO:
Excuse me?
---
## JAX:
And Ariana?
---
She famously hates Westbrook.
---
It’s ‘cause that’s what you do junior year.
---
It’s just like taking APUSH or applying for summer internships.
---
It’s part of the whole thing––
---
## JENNY:
Jax––
---
## MELISSA:
And this “thing” takes work that clearly only some of us like to put in––
---
## JAX:
Some of us have this other thing, I don’t know if you’ve heard of it, it’s called a social life?
---
## JENNY:
Jax.
---
## ARIANA:
Can I please ask my question?
---
## YASH:
Jax, why don’t we just check our answers––
---
## JENNY:
I think Yash has the right idea!
---
## JAX:
No need to get all embarrassed about it.
---
Everyone knows you have lunch in Mrs. Patterson’s classroom––
---
## MELISSA:
Have you ever considered that maybe, possibly, I don’t sit at lunch with Mrs. Patterson because I don’t have friends, but because I actually have the capacity to talk to an actual adult?
---
## MELISSA:
Or that I go to her for lunch because she’s the only Black teacher I’ve ever had here
---
and I have an important connection with her that I value because people who actually think about their futures have mentors,
---
Jax, can you name a single person over the age of eighteen that would genuinely enjoy speaking with you?
---
## MELISSA:
Yeah that’s what I thought.
---
## JAX:
...
I didn’t know the Mrs. Patterson thing was like…like a serious, like––
---
## CAMILA:
You didn’t think it was a race thing?
---
## JAX:
That’s, I mean, I––
---
## CAMILA:
Can’t even hear the word race without getting all nervous
---
## JENNY:
Okay wow.
---
I see we’ve reached a…point of tension.
---
Why don’t we all take a deep breath––
---
## JAX:
I obviously didn’t think of it in that way, I was just stating an objective fact, it’s literally true that Melissa––
---
## CAMILA:
Why haven’t we cancelled Jax yet?
---
## MELISSA:
Trust me, I’ve tried…
---
## JAX:
Cancel culture is the poison of our generation
---
## CAMILA:
You’re the poison of our generation
---
## JAX:
Wow, you really got me there, huh?
---
Really hit me where it––
---
## ARIANA:
Can you just shut up and check your answers!
I don’t know what your mommy tells you,
---
but everyone actually isn’t that interested in hearing everything you have to say.
---
And I’m here because my mom wouldn’t let me leave Westbrook unless I could take this class.
---
Not because it’s "part of the whole thing."
---
## JAX:
…
I don’t call my mom mommy.
---
And I already checked my answers.
---
I got everything right so, didn’t take long.
---
## MELISSA:
You did not get a perfect score on that.
---
## JAX:
Here.
---
## JENNY:
No don’t––
---
## JAX:
Check.
---
## JENNY:
We shouldn’t be swapping worksheets.
---
Alex is very––
---
## ALEX:
Jenny
---
## JENNY:
I’m SO sorry––
---
## ALEX:
Just pass these papers out now.
---
Quickly, please.
---
## ALEX:
Apologies for the frantic energy today.
---
Hopefully this exercise will be worth it.
---
Exercise eight is all about––
---
## ARIANA:
I have a question.
---
## ALEX:
Yes, Ariana?
---
## ARIANA:
I’m still confused about how we’re approaching these reading passages?
---
## MELISSA:
Five! Five wrong! Suck it, Jax Wilson!
---
## ALEX:
We should be keeping our worksheets to ourselves…
---
## JAX:
Thanks for doing that for me, was reeeeaaally not in the mood to do it myself
---
## ALEX:
The test is less than three weeks away!
Let me say that again.
---
The test is less than three weeks away.
---
If there was ever a time to take this lightly, it’s completely passed by now.
---
## ALEX:
Alright, everyone flip to page 67.
---
Math drill.
---
Fifteen minutes.
---
## ARIANA:
What about my question?
---
## ALEX:
We’ll address it later.
---
Everyone get to work, time’s already started.
---
[Ticks. Rain.]
---
## ALEX:
Every class goes at its own pace.
---
We’ll just push the schedule, put them both on the agenda for tomorrow.
---
Thanks, Jenny. You're good to go.
---
## JENNY:
Great!
Oh and,
I actually had some ideas?
---
For the next couple weeks, since we’re running behind––
---
## ALEX:
Running behind happens every year.
---
## JENNY:
Right, I was just thinking maybe––
---
## ALEX:
We always catch up.
---
And if we don’t, I’ve purposely left parabolas for the end.
---
They only make up about one to two percent of the test, sometimes zero.
---
## JENNY:
Totally I just
And so so fine if this is like So Stupid, this is just a suggestion and you know what you’re doing,
---
I mean that’s why Mr. Mars regards you so highly but
---
We might save time if we didn’t have them correct the homework during class?
---
I feel like we could use that extra time for other things, like useful ways to cope during this––
---
## ALEX:
Correcting in class ensures that they remember to ask all their questions, and learn from their mistakes––
---
## JENNY:
Yes right, Sorry I––
---
## ALEX:
I’ve been doing this for seven years.
---
With outstanding results––
---
## JENNY:
Amazing results, yes––
---
## ALEX:
I’m very good at my job
---
## JENNY:
Yes! I agree, I guess I’m thinking more about, like, my job?
---
As senior mentor?
---
I feel like as a student too I have a lot I can offer
Like, just, from experience
Ways to improve productivity and increase morale?
---
## ALEX:
Your job isn’t to increase morale––
---
## JENNY:
I know, I just mean––
---
## ALEX:
Your job is to make sure everything’s running smoothly, which clearly you are still struggling with––
---
## JENNY:
Again, I am so sorry about yesterday––
---
## ALEX:
Jenny I appreciate your enthusiasm.
---
Your energy and your little quotes on the board and your… initiative with organizing the check-ins, it’s all very sweet,
---
but at the end of the day we’re preparing them for a test.
---
That’s where their focus needs to be.
---
## JENNY:
Even just the homework thing could make a huge difference––
---
## ALEX:
Okay fine.
---
You can grade the homework outside of class from now on.
---
## JENNY:
Oh.
---
Uh.
---
Me?
Um.
---
I don’t know if––
---
## ALEX:
Would that be problem?
---
Because if you can’t then I’d––
---
## JENNY:
No no no
It’s fine I’m just
---
I’m just thinking about how I have this every afternoon and also cheer practice, plus all my school work and clubs and, so, it may be…
---
I mean if I need to make time for it, I’ll make time for it, I
---
I do want to do a good job but
---
Yeah
Yes.
---
Yes! I can do it, I’ll
I can grade the homeworks.
---
[Reggaeton music]
---
## JENNY:
Do you need me to repeat the question?
---
## MELISSA:
No I heard you
---
## JENNY:
Reflecting on your strengths and weaknesses is an excellent way to––
---
## MELISSA:
I’ve already reflected on them
---
## JENNY:
No. You haven’t.
---
## MELISSA:
I could be reflecting on them right now and you wouldn’t even know
---
## JENNY:
You know what I mean––
---
## MELISSA:
What are my strengths and weaknesses, Jenny?
---
## JENNY:
I asked you first––
---
## MELISSA:
I thought we could both ask questions
---
## JENNY:
If you think my thoughts would be useful to your process, then, yes, maybe I can––
---
## MELISSA:
I would love your thoughts.
---
## JENNY:
…
okay.
---
I think you’re very driven.
---
It's impressive.
---
Nothing gets in your way.
---
I think you show the most promise in our group for National Merit
---
But promise doesn’t mean you’ll actually get it, because even though you work really hard, for some reason you love to do it all alone.
---
That’s your weakness.
---
Your drive isolates you.
---
## JENNY:
Any reactions to that?
---
## JENNY:
I know you’re still upset about the feminist club presidency––
---
## MELISSA:
You only won because it was a popularity contest––
---
## JENNY:
Which, if you think about it, you being cold to me for winning is actually super anti-feminist––
---
## MELISSA:
I made a thirty-slide powerpoint and you pulled up a slideshow of protest pictures with We Can’t Stop by Miley Cyrus playing in the background––
---
## JENNY:
If you actually listen to the chorus it literally WORKS––
---
## MELISSA:
I’m not cold.
---
I just don’t worship the ground you walk on like everyone else at this school
---
I could just not want to be your friend and that’s okay
It doesn’t make me a bad person.
---
## JENNY:
We’re wasting time––
---
## MELISSA:
Wasting time for you to tell me to “reflect” and take deep breaths?
---
## JENNY:
Deep breaths would certainly help with the stress––
---
## MELISSA:
If we were meant to feel fine, we wouldn’t have to do any of this.
---
Sure, I could take some deep breaths
But as soon as I take that last exhale
---
I’m back where I started, and it hits me all at once: There Is So Much To Do.
---
And I have to get used to it all over again.
---
Why would I do that?
---
## JENNY:
What are the areas you are most looking to improve?
---
## JENNY:
You know, you’re not the only one that’s overwhelmed.
---
I get it, you’re stressed, it's a high pressure time, but half the school is functioning on college dreams and caffeine.
---
I set aside time outside of class for you.
---
So if you could just meet me here for a second, so we can get this over with quickly and peacefully I would really appreciate that because fun fact?
---
I also don't really want to be here and I also don’t particularly enjoy your company.
---
## MELISSA:
Not many areas to improve.
---
I’ve been killing the practice tests, so
Maybe parabolas.
---
## ARIANA:
I have a question about number sixteen.
---
## MELISSA:
Of course…
---
## ARIANA:
I can’t really find the evidence for why the answer is B.
---
I looked in every paragraph and there may be some argument––
---
## ALEX:
If you take a look at line 23––
---
## ARIANA:
Line 23, yeah, I see that, but line 23 isn’t even a factual statement?
---
And I thought that’s what we’re looking for.
---
## ALEX:
Again, we’re looking for explicit evidence––
---
## ARIANA:
It’s not explicit.
---
It’s a theory.
---
It’s literally an assumption––
---
## ALEX:
It’s important to treat every reading passage as it’s own––
---
## ARIANA:
As its own thing.
---
Yes, I know––
---
## ALEX:
Then what is the problem, Ariana?
---
This is the material––
---
## ARIANA:
We should learn to look at these with an actual nuanced perspective––
---
## ALEX:
There is a method if you would give a chance––
---
## ARIANA:
What method?!
---
If I look at the method one way it’s C, if I look at it another way it could be A––
---
## ALEX:
I’m staring at the answer sheet and the answer sheet says B.
---
B.
---
That’s the answer.
---
That’s it.
---
You can hate it all you want but fact is, if this question shows up on the test two weeks from now and you don’t choose B, you will just be Wrong.
---
Boom.
A quarter point gone.
---
A quarter point farther from being a Semifinalist.
---
That’s what you’re here for, right?
---
Because you want National Merit?
---
If that’s not what you want, if what you want is to float around your big idea, then by all means leave this class and start a blog or something.
---
Join a book club.
---
Take a philosophy class.
---
But right now, You Are Here.
---
## YASH:
Wait um.
---
## JAX:
What are you doing?
---
## YASH:
I don’t know I just…do not feel okay at all with what just happened.
---
I…I like Ariana’s questions and––
---
## JAX:
Dude––
---
## ARIANA:
It’s fine, Yash.
---
Thank you.
But I’m fine.
---
You know as of this year almost 2,000 schools are making standardized tests optional for admissions?
Including Harvard.
---
Give it at most ten, maybe even just five years, and all of this doesn’t even matter.
---
Your job doesn’t matter.
---
And you know what the funniest thing is?
---
I’m gonna get Merit.
---
But I was gonna get it whether I took this class or not.
---
And you knew that, the moment you saw my first score.
---
Because that’s how these tests work.
---
You either get it or you don’t.
---
And it doesn’t mean you’re smart, it doesn’t mean you deserve a better education, it doesn’t mean anything.
---
It’s just a stupid, arbitrary metric to brainwash us into thinking meritocracy is real.
---
## ALEX:
Alright.
We are…over time.
---
I’ll see you all tomorrow.
---
## MELISSA:
The test optional thing isn’t even that serious.
---
Everyone knows it’ll still be a huge strength in your application, especially for more selective schools.
---
[Piano Music. Thunder.]
---
## JAX:
So.
You and Ariana.
---
Are you guys like––?
---
## YASH:
Purely platonic
---
## JAX:
You’re ditching me for a platonic hang?
---
Are you gonna help her plan an anti-Westbrook protest or something?
---
## YASH:
Dude
---
## JAX:
I mean I totally get it.
---
It’s fucked up what happened but
I don’t know
It seems like a lot of blame to pin on one school…
---
## YASH:
You don’t think Westbrook has anything to do with it?
---
## JAX:
I’m sure every high school has a suicide count.
---
## YASH:
Jax
---
## JAX:
We’re talking between the two of us, it’s fine––
---
## YASH:
I just think––
Never mind.
---
## JAX:
What?
---
## YASH:
It’s fine.
---
## JAX:
No.
Say it.
---
## YASH:
… sometimes you make this a weird space for everybody.
---
And…it feels weird to be hanging out with them and then hang out with you as if nothing’s happening.
---
## JAX:
…what are you talking about?
---
## YASH:
Like…I don’t know, pretending to kill yourself when Ariana’s right there––
---
## JAX:
That was a joke––
---
## YASH:
And with Melissa it’s…
---
You’re a white guy picking on this Black girl
---
## JAX:
I don’t pick on her, it goes both ways
---
## YASH:
It goes one way more than the other.
---
## JAX:
…
It’s not racism, if that’s what you’re saying
---
## JAX:
It’s not
---
You think I’m racist?
---
## YASH:
I don’t think you’re racist, it’s just a bit––
---
## JAX:
I’ve had many people look down on me, more than I can fucking count, but no one like Melissa.
---
## YASH:
It’s not just about Melissa––
---
## JAX:
Okay what’s going on?
---
Do you have platonic plans with her too now?
---
## YASH:
You significantly impact my time in this class.
---
You distract me.
You make me feel like I can’t take this seriously.
---
Sometimes you say things and they’re just fucked up and I have to apologize for you––
---
## JAX:
I’m just trying to keep things light and funny, but everyone’s so––
---
## YASH:
WOULD YOU PLEASE LISTEN TO ME.
---
GOD.
---
It's like every conversation we have, everything we do together, I’m always gonna be second to you.
---
And you don’t even care, you love it.
---
It’s like I’m the silly side character who’s sweet and likable but he’ll never actually win anything.
---
Or Be anything.
---
And I can’t even blame you completely for it because I fucking do it to myself!
---
I put myself right into that little box, right into that side character box, and it still feels shitty and I still stay there because I don’t know what else I can be!
---
And being a National Merit Scholar, doing well here, making new friends, that’s a way I can get out of it.
---
A way I can move past this perpetual side characterness, and you’re getting in the way.
---
## JAX:
I don’t know what Ariana’s putting into your head, or if like
---
You’re too stressed or whatever
But
You wouldn’t even be in this class if it weren’t for me.
---
## ALEX:
So we’re up against the same problem––we can’t solve two variables at once.
---
So what do we do?
---
## CISCO:
Um.
---
## ALEX:
We’re following the same steps we went over for number four.
---
It’s just a new set of equations.
---
## CISCO:
I guess I still don’t really know––
---
## ALEX:
This is our second session working through these problems. If you’re not focusing now, we’re going to keep going in circles––
---
## CISCO:
I am focusing.
---
Like, really hard.
---
…
I’m just not good at this.
---
## ALEX:
You’re preliminary score was very promising, as long as you make this your priority––
---
## CISCO:
That was a one-day thing.
---
I don’t know if it was luck, good energy,
Maybe my mom is really good at praying,
But the Cisco who got that score isn’t me.
---
## ALEX:
…
Well
There’s always National Hispanic Scholar to shoot for.
---
Your scores are definitely within the range.
---
## CISCO:
…Right.
---
## ALEX:
Look, this is the hard part.
---
You put in the hours, and then this paves the way for a nice resume, a nice college acceptance, and it’s all worth it.
---
Work now, pay off later.
---
But you need to be working.
---
## CISCO:
So it gets easier?
---
## MELISSA:
I need help.
---
## ALEX:
Melissa, we’re––
---
## MELISSA:
I’ve been doing everything, everything.
---
Eating dinner, waiting for the bus, can’t sleep, I study.
---
I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.
---
## ALEX:
You’re burnt out, why don’t you put the workbooks down for a couple hours––
---
## MELISSA:
I’m not burnt out.
---
I’m lost.
---
I need extra help.
---
I need whatever you’re doing with Cisco.
---
## ALEX:
Your scores are National Merit scores, Melissa, two weeks in a row.
---
## MELISSA:
I cheated.
---
## CISCO:
Oh shit
---
## ALEX:
Cisco, why don’t you check your answers while I talk to Melissa.
---
## MELISSA:
All of them.
---
I cheated.
---
## ALEX:
There’s no way you cheated without me noticing, there are only six of you and I’m in the room the whole time.
---
## MELISSA:
Unless I’ve taken the test before.
---
I’ve gone through every PSAT and SAT book and I finally found the one you use for practice exams.
---
## ALEX:
Melissa…
I know your first practice test was tough––
---
## MELISSA:
I got a 1250 on the first practice exam.
---
A 1250.
---
## CISCO:
You brought the average down?
---
## ALEX:
Cisco.
---
## MELISSA:
And I just don’t understand how I’m not improving.
---
You’re supposed to be the best.
---
I fought to be in this class because you got results––
---
## ALEX:
I can’t help you if I don’t know you’re struggling.
---
By being dishonest, you’ve completely sabotaged the process for––
---
## MELISSA:
I took the PSAT my freshman year and didn’t even get a score that low,
---
and now suddenly I can’t break 1300, let alone 14 or 1500, which is where I should be if I even want a shot at Merit.
---
It feels like a death sentence to see a score like that on an official practice exam I can’t be––
I’m not.
---
That Person.
---
The 1250 person.
---
So I just took practice tests at home and every time I would go through the answers it was torture
My pen was just like
---
Slash slash slash slash slash slash
Red slashes all over every book
And I can’t do that I cannot do that
In front. Of.
---
E v e r y o n e.
---
It makes that sound.
---
You know the sound.
[Sound of slashing.]
---
## MELISSA:
And again
[Sound of slashing.]
---
## MELISSA:
And again.
---
## ALEX:
Melissa, that’s enough.
---
## MELISSA:
And again and again and again and again
[Sound of slashing pen on paper]
---
## ALEX:
Melissa!
---
## MELISSA:
Please
---
## JENNY:
Y E S Y E S !!!!!
YEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS
---
YES YES YES YES
YESYESYESYES
YES
---
yeeeeesSSSSS
YES YES YES
YES YES YES!!!!!
---
## JENNY:
YES YES YES YES
YES YES
YES YES
[Peppy cheer music]
---
## JENNY:
YES YES
YES YES
YES
YES
YES
---
## JENNY:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
---
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
---
Yes
Y
Y
Yyyyyy……
---
## YASH:
So this is where you are every day?
---
For three full hours?
---
## ARIANA:
My mom can’t know I stopped going.
---
Plus it’s nice, quiet.
---
How long is your break?
---
## YASH:
Ten minutes I think?
---
But I don’t wanna go back.
---
Things are so awkward now and
And I know it’s like So Stupid to give Jax that
Like
---
Give him PSAT and the science hallway after third period and the third row of the parking lot
If I were stronger and like
I don’t know just
---
More in my skin or whatever
I guess I would fuck it, you know
Just go to those places too, it’s not like he Owned those places,
---
But
He kind of did own them?
---
I don’t know
Whatever
I’m thinking I’ll just apologize.
---
Tell him I was stressed or something.
---
## ARIANA:
…
That’s it?
---
## YASH:
You have no idea how much of a game changer having Jax is
---
He’s the reason I got to switch to Mrs. Velazquez for my college counselor.
---
Mrs. Velazquez.
---
She got Danny Tucker into Georgetown and he never even
got all his math credits.
---
If you met his mom you’d totally get it, Janet has like.
---
A team.
---
But for like, his life.
---
## ARIANA:
So you’re just gonna hide behind the shiny shield of a white man?
---
## YASH:
Okay no.
---
No.
Nope.
---
You don’t get to say that.
---
I hate to break it to you but
---
## ARIANA:
I know I’m white, Yash, I’m just saying––
---
## YASH:
Like this whole rebellious thing you have going on?
---
Having beef with the teacher…
---
## ARIANA:
I do not have beef with Alex
---
## YASH:
When Eddy Lopez talked shit about some faculty on twitter he got expelled.
---
And here you are, you’re not even struggling in class that much––
---
## ARIANA:
It’s not about whether I’m struggling, it’s it's
---
## YASH:
You literally got a perfect score––
---
## ARIANA:
It's the way they’re feeding us this story about the test––
---
## YASH:
Ooooh look at me, I am very mysterious and I’m raising my hand because I have soooo many thoughts
---
## ARIANA:
They make it this huge deal but this test doesn't even matter!
---
## YASH:
It’s the the the,
Audacity that you walk around with
---
## ARIANA:
Audacity?
---
## YASH:
Audacity
---
## ARIANA:
Audacity!
---
## YASH:
AAAuuuuudddAAccciitttYYY
---
## ARIANA:
AUdaciTY Audacityaudacityaudacity
---
## YASH:
AuDAcity AUdacity AudacITy Audacityaudacity
---
## ARIANA:
AUUUUDDAAAACCIITTYYY
---
## YASH:
AAAUDDACIITYYY
---
## BOTH:
AAAAUUUUUDDAAAAACIIIIIITTYYYYYYYYYYYYY
---
## ARIANA:
…we are so fucking high.
---
## ARIANA:
Wouldn’t you do it too?
---
## YASH:
What?
---
## ARIANA:
If you could fucking lash out and get away with it
If you couldn’t even make sense of life anymore because
---
## ARIANA:
Suddenly there’s this, like
Big Fucking Hole, and you have to walk around every day like
---
Oh it’s fine! This Big Fucking Hole here?
---
Totally normal! Just a part of me now!
Wouldn’t you just
Fuck it!
---
## ARIANA:
And now
Now Principal Hughes wants to start a scholarship in Ian’s name.
---
Like...
---
seriously?
---
He sees that I’m angry, he sees that I transferred
And he thinks bringing more people to Westbrook is the answer?
---
I told him: you want to “honor my brother”?
---
## ARIANA:
Actually stop and think about what happened, what’s been happening.
---
Actually do something with the money before sucking more people into this fucked New England wannabe nightmare!
---
I mentioned Connor Davis, Chrissy Torres, Zack Chang, Hale Roberts, Lenny from sophomore year…
---
I talked about how no one even knew it was suicide with Hale for, like, three months…
---
He said I’m “likely clouded by my emotions” and he’d love to “circle back to it once I’ve had space."
---
You know, I never noticed how much people talk about death at this school before
It’s always so casual.
---
Jokes.
---
How we want to die, how we aren’t sleeping
Then suddenly it was all I could hear.
---
I couldn’t do it anymore.
---
After this is all over, I hope I never come back.
---
## JAX:
Bye bye Miss 1250.
---
## YASH:
Jax, don’t––
---
## MELISSA:
What did you just say?
---
## JAX:
I can respect that as a first score.
---
Start low, you can only get higher, right?
---
## MELISSA:
You told him?
---
## CISCO:
I
Well, I––
---
## MELISSA:
That was a private conversation!
---
## CISCO:
I have to go.
---
## CAMILA:
Cisco, are you serious?!
---
## CISCO:
The debate club has a lot of swaying power at Westbrook.
---
I could use their endorsement.
---
## CAMILA:
Oh my god.
---
## CISCO:
I need the presidency for college apps so…I kind of felt like I had to.
---
## MELISSA:
Right.
---
Anything for college apps.
---
## CAMILA:
I know this campaign is “important to you,” but c’mon, Cisco, it’s Jax––
---
## CISCO:
I asked for your help, I asked you to look into endorsements from your clubs, and you didn’t do anything.
---
## CAMILA:
Since when do you need endorsements for a class president––
---
## CISCO:
What is your problem with my campaign, Camila?
---
## CAMILA:
I don’t have a problem with your campaign––
---
## CISCO:
Because it’s one thing to have a test to study for every time I need help putting up posters / at seven AM,
---
## CAMILA:
I actually did have a test to study for
---
## CISCO:
And it’s another thing to not even answer my texts––
---
## CAMILA:
It’s your campaign.
---
Why do I have to be so involved––
---
## CISCO:
Because you’re my friend.
---
Because I want this and this is hard––
---
## CAMILA:
Then do something hard! Do something hard for once in your life
---
instead of begging me to move the fucking earth around just so you don’t have to think for two extra seconds!
---
## CISCO:
I am trying––
---
## CAMILA:
You complain about not having something to put on your college resume, you complain about needing extra prep sessions,
---
but the minute you go to do something yourself, you can’t even do it without a second opinion on your campaign font.
---
## CISCO:
Who picked up the phone when you were freaking out about getting into that summer program?
---
Who distracted Ms. G for fifteen minutes so she wouldn’t notice you were late?
---
## CAMILA:
I never asked you to do that––
---
## CISCO:
Friends help each other, Camila, that’s what they do––
---
## CAMILA:
All those people, all those Westbrook people who can’t go a minute without thinking about leadership positions, who are tight and rigid and boring--
---
## CISCO:
Wait a second,
---
## CAMILA:
You don’t have to be one of those people––
---
## CISCO:
aren’t you the one staying up until four AM doing linear equations?
---
You hate science, you’re not even gonna do science, but you’re putting yourself through AP chem, why?
---
Because “three APs isn’t enough”?
---
## CAMILA:
Do you think I like doing this?
---
I haven’t slept more than four hours a night since the semester started.
---
I can’t keep track of anything anymore, every day I want to rip this fucking uniform off
my skin,
---
it feels like I’m living class period by class period––
---
## CISCO:
And you did that all to yourself––
---
## CAMILA:
You want to talk about what friends do?
---
How about ask me how I am every once in a while?
---
## CISCO:
I can’t ask how are you if we’re barely hanging / out––
---
## CAMILA:
You of all people know how stupid I felt when I first got to Westbrook.
---
You know how much it means that I’m finally climbing up the class rankings––
---
## CISCO:
What would happen if you failed a class?
---
Dropped out of honor society?
---
Not to your class ranking,
To the fucking equilibrium of your life.
---
You could fail the entire grade and your parents would still be so proud of you––
---
## CAMILA:
Your parents are proud of you too.
---
They love you––
---
## CISCO:
They love the hypothetical version of me that’ll show up when I “Find God."
---
## CAMILA:
I’m sure that’s not actually how they feel––
---
## CISCO:
God I hate when you do that!
“Oh, Cisco, that’s not how they feel”
“I’m sure it’s fine”
What if it’s not fine, Camila?
---
What if it’s just.
---
NOT
You’re so stuck in your happy little bubble you can’t even––
---
## CAMILA:
You know my parents put pressure on me too––
---
## CISCO:
They put pressure on you because they believe in you.
---
Not because you have to make up for who you are.
---
My parents were so happy when I told them about my campaign.
---
My dad’s actually talking to me.
---
He calls me “El Presidente” every time he sees me now, I finally feel like we all care about something, together.
---
And I can't even tell my best friend about it.
---
## CISCO:
I guess I just wish you thought about how things are different for me.
---
[Organ plays]
---
## CAMILA:
Hi.
---
Um.
---
My parents say that I’m driving myself crazy and my bad mood means I’m disconnected from you or something?
---
Which, honestly makes me so angry because
I don’t know
I thought this is what they wanted?
---
I thought I was doing so well, I started working harder and I felt…smarter.
---
And capable.
---
And Good.
---
I got So Good.
---
And it felt like I was worth being at Westbrook and then….
---
I don’t really know what happened.
---
Suddenly Cisco and I aren’t FaceTiming every night anymore.
---
And I’m not even with my friends at lunch because I’m in the library working on calc homework,
---
and I forget to pick up my own sister from school because I can't stop worrying about PSAT.
---
It’s like all these things, all these Good things just keeping pouring and pouring into me until I’m filled to the brim
---
and I’m spilling and spilling and spilling and there’s nothing left.
---
There’s nothing left of me to give anymore.
---
I’ve been thinking a lot about why people would wanna die?
---
And I don’t know if I can ever really understand that but
---
Sometimes I just want to disappear for, like, one second?
---
Or, like, a Day
Nothing permanent, no grave just
One Day, you know?
---
## ALEX:
Cisco, where have you been?
---
## CAMILA:
Hey
---
## ALEX:
What happened, Cisco?
---
## CAMILA:
Someone drew over his campaign posters.
---
And it’s….
---
bad.
---
## ALEX:
Bad?
---
## YASH:
I think someone sent me a picture, hold on
---
## YASH:
Oh, yeah, that’s, I probably shouldn’t, I guess we shouldn’t give it power, I mean you don’t have to see it––
---
## CISCO:
Just show it to him, Yash.
---
## CAMILA:
I always knew Megan was a bitch.
---
## MELISSA:
How do you know it was Megan?
---
## CAMILA:
Who else would it be?
---
She was in the lead, and then Cisco comes in, takes half her potential votes in the last three days––
---
## MELISSA:
Megan isn’t like that
---
## CAMILA:
You don’t know what anyone is like until getting into an Ivy is on the line.
---
## MELISSA:
Megan doesn’t even want to go to an Ivy.
---
Her top choice is Duke.
---
## YASH:
Megan can Suke my Duke.
---
## ALEX:
Has anyone reported this?
---
## CAMILA:
See?
---
Even Alex thinks you should tell admin.
---
## CISCO:
No point.
---
## CAMILA:
It’s not fair that she got away with it AND won the presidency.
---
## CISCO:
I thought you didn’t care about me running for president.
---
## CAMILA:
You’re really gonna let that white bitch get away with this?
---
## CISCO:
You know just as much as I do that if my parents found out about this I’m dead.
---
Dicks in my mouth?
---
They’d die.
---
## YASH:
Woah.
---
It’s hitting me how, like, aggressively homophobic the poster is.
---
## MELISSA:
It’s not necessarily homophobic.
---
Penises are a common way to––
---
## CAMILA:
It was homophobic as fuck, I don’t care if Megan’s your friend, I want her burned at the stake.
---
## MELISSA:
She’s not my friend.
---
## JAX:
So messed up, like incredibly messed up,
---
like I definitely would never ever condone anyone doing that ever and I’m so so sorry, Cisco, I really am.
---
But I gotta say
Whoever did that can DRAW
---
## ALEX:
Okay, that’s enough.
---
## ALEX:
I’m sorry to hear that happened, Cisco.
---
If you do decide to do something about this and you need an adult on your side, I’m here.
---
## ARIANA:
…
What?
---
## ALEX:
Ariana.
---
Happy to see you back.
---
Why don’t you take a seat?
---
## ALEX:
Yes, Ariana?
---
## ARIANA:
Um.
I think I figured out what was going one with number sixteen.
---
From the last practice test I took.
---
Basically any time you have a question that’s worded like this, nine times out of ten there’s always gonna be two answers that feel possible.
---
What I find works to eliminate the wrong one is taking a look at the first and last paragraphs––
---
that’s usually where the author’s perspective will most clearly and unambiguously be stated.
---
Even if other interpretations are possible.
---
And if you look at the example question on page fifty-six.
---
## ARIANA:
That’s basically what they’re pointing out.
---
## YASH:
It’s just steps.
---
## ARIANA:
It’s just steps.
---
Totally still not critical reading
And I still think it’s stupid but
---
I know it’s useful to know how Specifically Stupid it is.
---
## ALEX:
Thank you, Ariana.
---
I’m sure that clarified things for a lot of us.
---
## CISCO:
You.
---
Cutthroat, nasty, two-faced bitch!
---
## YASH:
Woah
---
## JENNY:
Cisco, this is a not a space for aggressive language––
---
## CISCO:
You ruined my posters! You cost me the election!
---
## CAMILA:
It was Melissa?!?
---
## MELISSA:
What?
---
## CISCO:
Don’t lie.
---
## MELISSA:
I’m not.
---
## CISCO:
Draw a dick.
---
## MELISSA:
What?
---
## CISCO:
If those dicks on my poster weren’t yours then let me see your dick.
---
## JENNY:
Why don’t we all take a breath and try using our communication skills to work out––
---
## MELISSA:
Who told you it was me?
---
## CISCO:
Well, Jax said––
---
## MELISSA:
What?
---
How did you know?
---
## JAX:
I didn’t!
---
I just figured since there was literally sharpie all over your right wrist
---
and only someone in AP Art would draw dicks with that much attention to detail.
---
## CISCO:
You lied.
---
To my face.
---
## MELISSA:
Cisco, I promise it was just a heat-of-the moment thing.
---
I didn’t mean to be homophobic, it didn’t even cross my mind.
---
You spilled my score to Jax and I felt horrible, I mean that score was just embarrassing and I, I, I would’ve told you.
---
I would’ve confessed if Jax hadn’t spilled.
---
All he wants to do is start drama.
---
## JAX:
You drew on the posters, you did that.
---
You think it’s not fair because you’re always getting away with things…
---
## MELISSA:
I get away with things?
---
Me?
!?
---
God are you not sick of fulfilling every single rich asshole stereotype?!
---
## JENNY:
Guys Alex will be back any second––
---
## ARIANA:
I’ll be auditioning for the summer intensive.
---
And I’ll be playing Mozart’s Sonata No. 1 in C.
[Piano music]
---
## JAX:
Last I checked your parents were also paying twenty grand a year for you to go to Westbrook so don’t pretend we’re that different.
---
## MELISSA:
Last I checked I was on an academic scholarship because they actually value my presence at Westbrook.
---
## JAX:
Oh, sorry, only ten grand then.
---
## MELISSA:
Fuck off, Jax.
---
## JENNY:
Language!
---
## CISCO:
God, I’m so sick of this! I’m trying to confront Melissa here and all you guys do is bicker like an old couple again!
---
## JENNY:
You all are supposed to be a team! Let’s be a TEAM! WOOO!!!
---
## JAX:
You know now that you mention it, Francisco,
---
## CISCO:
Okay you are not allowed to call me that.
---
## JAX:
It does kind of feel like….
---
Melissa’s in love with me.
---
## JAX:
She’s always got something to say about every conversation I’m a part of, so she’s clearly always listening to me––
---
## MELISSA:
In love with you?
---
## YASH:
Jax, I don’t think it’s adding up for me.
---
## MELISSA:
In love with you?!
---
## YASH:
OKAY WOAH
---
## JAX:
Hey! HEY
WHAT THE HELL
---
## JENNY:
Why don’t we try some breathing exercises?
---
## CISCO:
She is strong fuck
---
## JAX:
WHAT THE HELL MELISSA
PSYCHO YOURE A PSYCHO
---
## MELISSA:
CAMILA: HELP
---
## CAMILA:
I don’t help people who sabotage my best friend
---
## JENNY:
THIS ENERGY WILL NOT BE USEFUL AS WE APPROACH TESTING DAY
---
## JAX:
OW
WHAT THE FUCK
---
## JENNY:
I’m getting Alex!
---
## JAX:
YASH: DO SOMETHING
---
## YASH:
IM NOT GETING INVOLVED
---
[Sound of the wrong piano note, then silence; piano music tentatively picks up]
---
## MELISSA:
Put down the poster.
---
[Another wrong note on the piano]
---
## MELISSA:
Put it down.
---
[Piano music picks up]
---
## MELISSA:
I will cut you with this poster, Jax Wilson
---
[Piano music stops]
## ARIANA:
Thank you.
---
[Jax laughs]
---
## CAMILA:
No one else is laughing, Jax.
---
## JAX:
God, it’s so funny.
---
Like, really?
---
All this craziness, why?
---
Because National Merit is on the line?
---
Do you actually think getting or not getting Merit is gonna make a difference in our lives?
---
We’re basically being spoon-fed the secrets to the test,
---
and if we don’t do well on this we make sure we do well on the SAT
---
and if we don’t do well on that, we pay someone to write us some killer Common App essays and beef up our resumes and it’s all good.
---
If anyone’s realized this is all bullshit it’s gotta be us, right?
---
## CAMILA:
Step back, Melissa.
---
My turn.
---
## JAX:
OKAY OKAY
---
## ALEX:
What’s going on?!
---
What happened to the poster?
---
## ALEX:
Can someone please tell me what happened to the poster?
---
## ALEX:
Okay, we’re done for the day.
---
## MELISSA:
But the test is in two days.
---
## ALEX:
We’re done.
---
## JENNY:
So, since we didn’t get to everything today that leaves––
---
## ALEX:
I don’t think they need anymore lessons.
---
## JENNY:
But––
---
## ALEX:
We don’t need to go over parabolas, sometimes they’re not even on the test.
---
It’s more important we focus on something that we know actually increases scores––confidence.
---
And that’s what you’re here for.
---
## JENNY:
…what?
---
## ALEX:
You said you wanted to focus on more than just the test right?
---
“Increase morale”?
---
## JENNY:
Yeah...
---
yeah I guess I did say that.
---
## ALEX:
So that’s what you’re gonna do.
---
Tomorrow.
---
You can say a few words, maybe lead a discussion, or do some sort of activity.
---
That would be cool.
---
Like a motivating activity.
---
Something to really get them hungry for the test.
---
## JENNY:
…Okay.
---
## ALEX:
Great.
---
## JENNY:
Yeah! WOOO!!! Can’t Wait! It’s gonna be––
---
## JENNY:
Hi everyone! Um
---
So today I’m going to be leading an activity!
A motivating activity actually
---
Because, as you know, obviously, the test is tomorrow
Scary! Aaah
---
Well
Actually no, not
---
I don’t want to scare you guys, that's not
---
That’s actually the opposite of what I want to do right now hahahaha
---
Anyway!
Uhh
Why don’t we…
---
## JENNY:
Pass these around.
---
## CAMILA:
We’re making flash cards?
---
Isn’t it too late for that?
---
## JENNY:
Nope! Not flash cards! Why don’t you all pull out a pen or pencil and I’ll explain the activity once everyone’s ready?
---
## MELISSA:
I already have my pencil out.
---
## YASH:
Me too.
---
## CISCO:
Same.
---
## ARIANA:
Yeah, I think we all do.
---
## JENNY:
Oh! Okay, well then, um.
---
Everyone close your eyes.
---
## JENNY:
I want you guys to think about…
The first day of class.
---
And what you were thinking.
---
How were you feeling?
---
At the very beginning.
---
What brought you in for that very first day?
---
Why do you want to be a National Merit Scholar?
---
## MELISSA:
Can we open our eyes now?
---
## JENNY:
Yes yes open your eyes!
I want you all to write your answer to the question on your index card.
---
## JENNY:
Cool.
---
Awesome.
---
Thanks, guys.
---
And now we’re gonna go around the room.
---
And we’re gonna read them out loud.
---
No responses, no comments.
---
Just…listen to each other.
---
Who wants to start?
---
## ALEX:
C’mon.
---
If no one volunteers I’ll call out people myself.
---
## JAX:
I can go.
---
## JENNY:
Yay! Take it away, Jax.
---
Why do you want to be a National Merit Scholar?
---
## JAX:
I put: to show I’m capable of more than people think.
---
## JENNY:
That’s great, Jax.
---
Why don’t you pick someone to go next?
---
## JAX:
Sure…Camila.
---
## CAMILA:
I want to know that I can set a goal and achieve it.
---
Cisco.
---
## CISCO:
Make my family proud.
---
Yash.
---
## YASH:
I wrote down: to feel more confident in myself.
---
Ariana.
---
## ARIANA:
To feel like a normal student again.
---
Melissa.
---
## MELISSA:
Um, I put––
---
## CAMILA, CISCO, YASH, & JAX:
Yale.
---
## MELISSA:
Oh my god that was
---
## MELISSA:
That was crazy!
---
## MELISSA:
Right on cue.
---
Oh my god I––
I must be so tired because like
I didn’t even think?
---
Of Yale?
---
What I actually put was um.
---
It’s actually so embarrassing now that I remember the actual answer is Yale.
---
Duh.
---
But um.
---
I actually put “To Feel Like I Deserve To Be Here”
But yeah I guess.
---
Yeah.
---
I did start
Doing This
I mean it’s the reason I do Anything, basically.
---
For Yale
So, yeah.
---
Yale.
---
Yale is the real answer.
---
## ALEX:
Sorry I’m a little jittery this morning.
---
Big Day!
---
## ALEX:
If they started on time they should be on the last section already…
---
I have been thinking, maybe, since the program is over a decade old, we could discuss some changes?
---
I know you always say at the end of the day they’re customers.
---
“What they’ll remember the most is whether they got what they wanted”
---
But they also remember the experience.
---
They look back and it’s more than just how much faster they could do algebra, it’s about what they learned about themselves and their confidence.
---
You Can Do It, right?
---
But right now it feels like I’m just gonna be the guy who tortured them for four weeks for a test
---
that they’ll probably forget by the time they’re in their thirties fumbling their way through a meeting with their boss
---
## ALEX:
I guess I don’t know what I want to discuss, but I feel like there’s something to discuss.
---
And I’m sorry if this is So Stupid, I know at the end of the day you know what’s best, that’s why you’re the man on the poster, right?
---
But
Being in High School isn’t just Being in High School.
---
I think we have a chance to see these kids, actually see them, as more than jut scores.
---
These kids,
They’re Tired.
---
And maybe we won’t see it at first, but I think this could set us apart, it could be revolutionary to––
---
Yes right, Sorry I––
Yes but––
---
Yes I agree but––
“The results,” yes I know––
---
That’s fair, yes
Yes
---
Let’s wait for the scores and let the results speak for themselves first…
---
No, No, nothing
I’m just afraid they might do amazing.
---
## ARIANA:
Melissa?
---
## MELISSA:
…
What are you doing here?
---
## ARIANA:
My notebook.
---
I think I left it here.
---
What did you think of the test?
---
## MELISSA:
I don’t want to talk about the test.
---
## ARIANA:
Oh.
---
Um, my notebook…I actually think it’s under that desk you’re sitting in so
---
## ARIANA:
Um.
---
I guess I’ll just
---
## ARIANA:
Sorry I––
I can go now.
---
## ARIANA:
If you ever do want to talk about the test.
---
Or not the test but…how you're feeling about the test I…I’m here.
---
I kind of know how you’re feeling so––
---
## MELISSA:
You got a perfect score our second practice test.
---
You have no idea how I’m feeling.
---
## ARIANA:
Right, I mean um
---
## MELISSA:
There were parabolas all over that test.
---
We didn’t even go over those.
---
## ARIANA:
…
yeah…
---
## MELISSA:
I wanted it so bad.
---
How am I supposed want anything again?
---
## ARIANA:
I totally blew this audition the other day?
---
Um
You’re actually the first person I’m telling so
---
## MELISSA:
A school play is not on the same level as the PSAT.
---
## ARIANA:
Not a school play, it was for a piano program
For a scholarship.
---
And sometimes if you go to the program they let you into the school after.
---
And, I guess that was part of the plan.
---
But now the plan is gone.
---
And it’s like, I don’t know
Piano used to be so fun, you know
---
When I first started I didn’t even know if I sounded good I just knew it felt good.
---
And now I’m too busy obsessing over whether it sounds good,
---
And then I do all this test prep stuff and it’s like, it all comes natural and I don’t even have to think and
---
And it’s like, fuck, why can’t I be this way for the thing I actually care about?
---
That used to be piano.
---
I don’t know when that stopped.
---
## MELISSA:
I don’t know when loving school stopped.
---
I used to love school, like, love it.
---
I remember running to my dad after school, so excited to tell him everything I learned that day.
---
He’d test me the day before my social studies quizzes
---
And it felt amazing to give all the right answers.
---
Now it feels like all I’m really learning to do is…
---
work?
---
And.
---
Trust that it’ll all be worth it?
---
Like there’s some kind of trade for missing the homecoming dance to study,
---
or spending my Friday nights alone,
---
or not being able to watch a teen movie without feeling nauseous about how much I can’t relate to it.
---
But now it feels like there’s
A Whole Timeline where there is no trade and no matter how much I work
---
Everything Still Goes Wrong.
---
But then let’s say it all does go right, you know
---
It really does pay off, it’s the Perfect Timeline and I go to a good school,
---
and it’s Yale, probably,
---
and I work really hard and build up another resume and start another set of applications because after undergrad there’s law school and after law school there’s Work
---
Now it’s time for Real Work, the Work We’ve Been Waiting For
---
And this is the part where I drive myself crazy because
---
When do I get to just
Live My Life?
---
Is it even worth it anymore?
---
Do I Stop?
---
Do I start over and build up this whole new identity for myself?
---
Because that just feels like even more work and
I’m not sure I even trust myself enough to stop.
---
So.
I guess I’m just gonna keep working and keep hoping that this is at least a medium good timeline?
---
And I’ll get some sort of trade?
---
## MELISSA:
What are you––?
---
## MELISSA:
…I don’t know, I should probably––
---
## ARIANA:
Just five minutes.
---
## MELISSA:
…Okay.
---
[The patter of rain.]
[Melissa and Ariana exhale.]
---
Google Drive
Gist
Clipboard
Sign in with Wallet
