Cold Dread

My fatigued eyes slowly focused on the line of words that I’ve read over several times during these last few minutes. Trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible, I read it over one last time. All the other students and I were dreading to hear the forbidding words, “You may now enter.” We quickly unfolded our sore bodies after hunching over our books like mother bears protecting their cubs. Collecting my belongings, I felt nauseous as acid created a burning path up my esophagus. I swallowed it down in a gulp along with any confidence I had. My bloodshot eyes burned with tears as I realized the horrible mistake I had made. I should have been studying last night instead of procrastinating. The icy fingers of AC wrapped around my exhausted body while I walked into the gym. The intimidating rows of desks with multiple teachers milling around filled me to the brim with fear. My pounding heart started stomping out of my chest as I approached the desk that would hold me captive for the next several hours. I saw the thick white booklet patiently waiting on the corner. It was my final assessment. Simran Toor was officially stamped on it to verify that this was the piece of paper that would affect my life forever. A cold sweat broke out over my entire body and my clammy hands were barley able to hold my shaking pencil. Through this pencil I had to display the intelligence that I had learned in these past 4 months. Suddenly, I could not remember anything. My mind was blank. The freezing metal met my stiff back as I hesitantly took a seat. Closing my tired eyes, I slowly collected a deep, refreshing breath. A last observation flitted across my thoughts before I started the exam: I am really cold.

The Routine

The alarm clock’s unappealing sound blares in their ears, ripping away the summer sunshine, to replace it with harsh florescent lights. The gleaming red and white floors reflect the hopeful faces of students. This is it. It's their final year, new goals are established, and they are motivated to make the results different from last year. The wide hallway floor is polished and prepared for the onslaught of students scurrying to their classes. But day after day the repetitive early mornings and late nights finishing the homework wear the students down. Very similar to the floor that is trampled on everyday by the students. And instead of filling their cars to the brim with students to go grab food during breaks, they sit shivering in Killick and Hogg’s freezing classrooms, doing everything they can to pass the class. As the year continues to pass, the motivation that was alive the first day has slowly disintegrated, and is no longer visible in the now dull floors. Now the only thing getting them through the year is that it will be finished soon. They can go back to late nights of unmentionable adventures, and relaxing on the scorching sand of the beach. But after summer break, there isn’t a high school to go back to for them; the students aren’t in the repetitive cycle anymore, unlike the floor. Come September the floors are being polished again like every year. The routine starts again. 

Who Defines Me?

"I've always liked the time before dawn,” said by Brain Andreas, “because there is no one around to remind me who I'm supposed to be so it's easier to remember who I am.” It’s hard to capture the whole essence of a person with only a few short sentences. But a couple characters seem to relate to Simran better than others. Her quiet and shy personality greatly reflects Piglet’s from Winnie the Pooh. He is a character full of fear and anxiety, but with his large group of friends to support him, he is able to overcome most of them. Someone similar yet completely different is Glenda from the show One Tree Hill. Although a minor character she impacted Simran greatly with her words. She regretfully admits that she is going to miss high school and unfortunately it was entirely her own fault. She wished that she would have tried harder and not let the fear of looking like an idiot stop her from taking all opportunities presented to her. Simran is also very empathetic towards Anna, the energetic and a lot less than graceful younger sister from the movie Frozen. Although Simran is not as fearless as the character they both are hopeless romantics but stupidly naive. And no matter the situation they are put into, they try their best to be optimistic . Another similarity is that fact that they both are younger sisters. Always trying to impress or at least live up to their older sister who seems perfect no matter what she does. Though cartoons and characters are very relatable almost every girl understands Jennifer Lawrence including Simran. Tripping, falling, and occasionally forgetting to put on deodorant, the star in the popular movie series, The Hunger Games, repeatedly reveals how ordinary she really is. They both have times where they don't think through everything before going ahead with it. Sometimes this leads to some of the best experiences, but occasionally it also comes with big consequences. She is very clumsy, very dorky and very comparable to Simran. Some see her as the timid girl, others see her as a loud free-spirited, and a select few have seen her as both. Though these characters relate very well to her, she will always be a little different because no one else is exactly like Simran Toor.