Chapter 1: Accepted
The envelope was waiting for me in my room on my dresser when I finally got home. I knew what it was, obviously since my mom had texted me during lunch that I had finally gotten a response from admissions. My stomach dropped, and the butterflies swarmed as I dropped my backpack onto the floor and slowly approached the envelope. It was thick, which I thought was a good sign. Everyone always says that the thick envelopes are acceptances, and the thin tiny envelopes were usually rejections. A couple butterflies left, and I felt less anxious.
"Sweetie, did you get in!?" Mom's voice echoed from down the hall. She's an awesome mother and as usual she could not wait to get the results. I could tell she was more anxious than me, and I was the one who would be affected by them! But she was trying to contain her excitement, and by doing that she was calming my nerves, allowing even more butterflies to escape. At this point I only had a couple left, fearing rejection and hoping to finally be accepted into some place. With all the pressure, it was this or going to community college while still living at home, and keeping my job. A job I absolutely hated and could not stand. Please let this be an acceptance and not another rejection.
"I don't know yet mom, I'm scared...what if I didn't get in?" I asked her, inching closer to the dresser that seemed to be an evil monster beckoning me in to swallow me whole. Mom was at the doorway now, peering over my shoulder.
"Kristen, I'm sure you got in! Honestly, this envelope is so thick! It has to be an acceptance, they wouldn't waste all that paper for a rejection..." Her reassuring words started to drown themselves out from my consciousness as I imagined what would happen if I indeed needed to go to community college and keep my job. I hated our hometown, most people here thought I was weird. I never really fit in, and was often bullied in grade school. This definitely had an impact on my schoolwork, as I lost the energy to do homework and hated going to class which would mean me seeing everyone's faces. I never considered myself to be attractive, likable. I just assumed everyone hated me because I was ugly, even though my close friends insisted that this was not the case. Still, my hair is bland and curly, and not the stereotypical curls society expects. My curls are unruly, bushy, and no amount of hair products can calm them. My skin is pale, in spite of my ethnicity. I look weird, and in today's world people do not like weird. I'm not a size zero either, actually I'm a size 24 in jeans, and a 22 in a dress. People really don't like that here, and they remind me everyday I walk down the hallway. These thoughts always overtook my mind, and prevented me from doing anything that I might enjoy... "Kristen? Are you listening to me?" Oh right, mom was still talking.
"Yeah, sure. Definitely." I smiled, hiding these thoughts and getting back to the real world. I reached for the envelope, this was the moment of truth. The front had a picture of Alaska, The University of Alaska at Fairbanks to be exact. Alaska was very far from home, but that's exactly how I wanted it to be. I needed this, I had to get away from here.
"Hey Kris, what's the news?" My father's deep voice boomed and actually made me jump. I wasn't expecting him to be home. Well, now that the whole family was here there was no turning back.
"Dad! You're home early, what's up?" I asked, but mom interrupted.
"There's time for explanations later you guys, right now we have to find out where you're going next year!" Mom snapped, she was so anxious it was driving her mad.
"Okay, here I go..." I said as I unfolded the flap at the top of the pretty envelope, and looked inside. There was a thick booklet, most likely a brochure about the university. Then a sticker, and finally a thick single sheet of paper. I sat on my bed and spread out the contents. My parents sat at my desk, staring and waiting. I grabbed the thick sheet of paper and scanned through it. "Oh my God, I can't believe this..."
"Now Kris, we're still proud of you no matter what. You are an awesome daughter-"
"Yes sweetie, we love you and even if you have to go to the community it's not that big of a deal-"
"Yeah girl, you rock! You are amazing and-"
"Guys shut up... I got in." I said, slightly annoyed that they were already expecting me to fail again. Their eyes lit up and that was that. I was officially going to The University of Alaska at Fairbanks, I was now an official nanook, whatever that was.
