Chapter 4: High School Recap (1997)
Well, it's my senior year in high school and I am totally excited. The past four years have been amazing. I was really focused with school and with training. Christine and I still hang out daily. Of course, we still worked with Adam and Jay with the training. I started learning how to do wrestling moves and it's a lot of fun. I started doing high-flying stunts because I am small (I am only 5' 2"). Adam helped me in so many ways with just about everything. He was always there taking care of me. At the same time, he let me make my own mistakes. I always depended on him whenever I was in a bad situation. I'll always be grateful for that! The past four years, my relationship with my parents has been amazing. They really cared and supported me. I went through a lot of emotional problems regarding school or with my past. They always took the time out to listen to whatever was on my mind. I have grown really attached to them. They have been involved with my schooling and with my training. They were totally proud of me whenever I was involved with school activities and stuff. I have become more emotionally stable because I have always done what I could do to be open about my problems. I hated to hold things down. I was very much like my dad in some ways. Always needing to get things out and never keeping things in. They did all that they could to help me to become a better person. We have had a lot of talks together. We went through hell during the past four years because of my biological parents. You see, my biological father kept sending threat letters and stalking me around school. The school knew about my history and decided to have better protection. During the beginning of my senior year, they finally caught him and put him in jail. The police department had asked me to testify and I agreed.
~Flashback~ "Miss Copeland, please explain to me what you remember from that day your biological parents disowned you," replied Mrs. Horowitz, who was my lawyer.
"I remember coming home from school that day, which was the day we got out report card. I was hanging out with a group of friends after school, just laughing and talking about different things. I immediately looked at my report card when I got it. I was thrilled that I got good grades, but I knew that my parents were not going to be thrilled. They wanted me to get straight A's. I didn't get straight A's. I got a B in history. I remember my best friend, Christine and I were walking home, just talking about guys and stuff. Then after we left to go home, I went up to my room and put things away and to study as well. My parents are full time workers and they don't come home until like 7, sometimes 8 depending on how busy it was at work. I remember that I was watching TV after I had finished my studies and I was waiting for my parents to come home from work. They had come home early that day, since it was pretty early; I assumed it was because it was slow at work. We all had dinner together then after dinner, I showed them my report card. My dad just got angry with me for getting a B in history. He started yelling at me, saying that I'm worthless and that I was stupid. I immediately went upstairs to my room because I didn't like anyone calling me stupid or worthless. I started packing my things because I had enough of being yelled at and everything. When I finished packing, I immediately went to Adam's house. I knew that they could help me, so I went over to their house. My dad had yelled that he no longer had a daughter and that he disowned me," I replied trying to fight tears from coming down.
"What were you feeling when you heard that man (pointing to my biological father) say that you were disowned?"
"I was hurt, I felt angry and at the same time I hated him for not encouraging me to do better in my studies."
"Now, I understand where you're coming form. And I'm sure that you were crying as well, correct?"
"Yes, I was crying. I cried the minute that he started yelling at me."
"Now, when you left and went to Mr. Copeland's house, what happened from there?"
I sighed, "I remember knocking on the door and waiting for them to answer. I remember Adam answering it and was in shock of what he saw and he called for his parents. They had all helped me get settled in. I tried to tell them what was going on, but they let me tell them in my own time. I told them the basics of what had happened. My father now, Michael Copeland had called his friend, Sarah Brodie to help me divorce my biological parents. From what they had told me that they agreed immediately and wanted to go along with it. So I agreed to get everything finalized."
"So, when did the threats begin?"
"The threats began when I was a sophomore in high school. I don't exactly remember the exact date it started, but it was very early in my sophomore year. They had sent me threatening letters saying that I was going to die for making them suffer and making them waste money. I got gifts like worms in roses and such. At first, I didn't tell anyone because I thought that they were playing a joke on me. And I thought that it would go away in a short period of time. When it went on through halfway my sophomore year, I had enough of it and I told my parents. My parents had informed the police and we have been trying to do some things to find out who it was. I regret not telling my parents sooner and everything. But nothing was happening, not until Officer Schwartz was undercover and found out that it was my biological father who was sending them."
"How long did the threats continue?" she asked.
"It started during my sophomore year and went straight into my junior year. And Officer Schwartz caught him halfway during my senior year. So I would have to say about two and a half years."
"Thank you. Nothing further, your honor."
"Your witness, Counselor," Judge Kellerman said.
"Miss Copeland, how did you exactly meet the Copeland family?"
"They had come over to meet us when we had moved here and we had grown up together. I was close to the family, still am."
"I see. Now you have said that they had helped you with the divorce, correct?'
"Yes, they had helped me get through it."
"Did they explain everything that was going on?"
"Yes, they made sure that I was aware of everything that was happening to me and with the divorce."
"Did you know that your parents wanted you back after the divorce happened?"
"No, I didn't. My biological parents never told me how they felt and everything. They never communicated with me about their true feelings."
"They don't talk with you about what they feel about anything?"
"Yeah, they don't talk to me about anything. They do talk about what needs to be done and everything. That's it."
"Really, from what I understand from Mr. Kim is that he told you what needs to be done and everything. Do you remember any of that?"
"I do remember him telling me that he didn't approve of my grades and stuff like that, but when he said it, he always yelled at me. Showing anger and remorse."
"I see. So you never talked to your parents about what you felt?"
"Oh, I knew that it was against the Asian culture to do that, so I respected that. That's why I went over to Adam's, because I knew I could get my feelings out to them and they understood. They had always encouraged me with everything that I did in school."
"Thank you. No more questions."
"Would you like to cross examine?"
"No, not at this time."
"The witness may step down."
~End Flashback~
All of this had happened during the winter break. I was glad that it happened during the break and not during school. The trial went great; my biological father was sent to jail with no possible parole and for life. I was so excited to hear that happen. My biological mother and I still keep in touch. We have been building our friendship and she has been telling me what was going on and everything. I didn't even know that my mother was forced to marry that man, which totally disgusts me. I was totally in shock. I finally understood where I came from and everything. I was finally thrilled that I was getting my life together. I am still training and was going to be valedictorian at graduation and everything. Everything was going smooth for me. I even had an interview with Vince McMahon of WWF and he said that I could start working with them as soon as I graduate from high school. Adam was already working for WWF as Edge with Jay as Christian. I have been watching them and I love their storylines. Adam and Jay come home whenever possible and talk with me. They have already introduced me to many of the wrestlers. I have traveled with them during the summer. So I was basically everyone's little sister. Though I have to admit that I had the hugest crush on Matt and Jeff hardy. It was hard for me to choose between the both of them. I couldn't wait to get started.
Well, it's my senior year in high school and I am totally excited. The past four years have been amazing. I was really focused with school and with training. Christine and I still hang out daily. Of course, we still worked with Adam and Jay with the training. I started learning how to do wrestling moves and it's a lot of fun. I started doing high-flying stunts because I am small (I am only 5' 2"). Adam helped me in so many ways with just about everything. He was always there taking care of me. At the same time, he let me make my own mistakes. I always depended on him whenever I was in a bad situation. I'll always be grateful for that! The past four years, my relationship with my parents has been amazing. They really cared and supported me. I went through a lot of emotional problems regarding school or with my past. They always took the time out to listen to whatever was on my mind. I have grown really attached to them. They have been involved with my schooling and with my training. They were totally proud of me whenever I was involved with school activities and stuff. I have become more emotionally stable because I have always done what I could do to be open about my problems. I hated to hold things down. I was very much like my dad in some ways. Always needing to get things out and never keeping things in. They did all that they could to help me to become a better person. We have had a lot of talks together. We went through hell during the past four years because of my biological parents. You see, my biological father kept sending threat letters and stalking me around school. The school knew about my history and decided to have better protection. During the beginning of my senior year, they finally caught him and put him in jail. The police department had asked me to testify and I agreed.
~Flashback~ "Miss Copeland, please explain to me what you remember from that day your biological parents disowned you," replied Mrs. Horowitz, who was my lawyer.
"I remember coming home from school that day, which was the day we got out report card. I was hanging out with a group of friends after school, just laughing and talking about different things. I immediately looked at my report card when I got it. I was thrilled that I got good grades, but I knew that my parents were not going to be thrilled. They wanted me to get straight A's. I didn't get straight A's. I got a B in history. I remember my best friend, Christine and I were walking home, just talking about guys and stuff. Then after we left to go home, I went up to my room and put things away and to study as well. My parents are full time workers and they don't come home until like 7, sometimes 8 depending on how busy it was at work. I remember that I was watching TV after I had finished my studies and I was waiting for my parents to come home from work. They had come home early that day, since it was pretty early; I assumed it was because it was slow at work. We all had dinner together then after dinner, I showed them my report card. My dad just got angry with me for getting a B in history. He started yelling at me, saying that I'm worthless and that I was stupid. I immediately went upstairs to my room because I didn't like anyone calling me stupid or worthless. I started packing my things because I had enough of being yelled at and everything. When I finished packing, I immediately went to Adam's house. I knew that they could help me, so I went over to their house. My dad had yelled that he no longer had a daughter and that he disowned me," I replied trying to fight tears from coming down.
"What were you feeling when you heard that man (pointing to my biological father) say that you were disowned?"
"I was hurt, I felt angry and at the same time I hated him for not encouraging me to do better in my studies."
"Now, I understand where you're coming form. And I'm sure that you were crying as well, correct?"
"Yes, I was crying. I cried the minute that he started yelling at me."
"Now, when you left and went to Mr. Copeland's house, what happened from there?"
I sighed, "I remember knocking on the door and waiting for them to answer. I remember Adam answering it and was in shock of what he saw and he called for his parents. They had all helped me get settled in. I tried to tell them what was going on, but they let me tell them in my own time. I told them the basics of what had happened. My father now, Michael Copeland had called his friend, Sarah Brodie to help me divorce my biological parents. From what they had told me that they agreed immediately and wanted to go along with it. So I agreed to get everything finalized."
"So, when did the threats begin?"
"The threats began when I was a sophomore in high school. I don't exactly remember the exact date it started, but it was very early in my sophomore year. They had sent me threatening letters saying that I was going to die for making them suffer and making them waste money. I got gifts like worms in roses and such. At first, I didn't tell anyone because I thought that they were playing a joke on me. And I thought that it would go away in a short period of time. When it went on through halfway my sophomore year, I had enough of it and I told my parents. My parents had informed the police and we have been trying to do some things to find out who it was. I regret not telling my parents sooner and everything. But nothing was happening, not until Officer Schwartz was undercover and found out that it was my biological father who was sending them."
"How long did the threats continue?" she asked.
"It started during my sophomore year and went straight into my junior year. And Officer Schwartz caught him halfway during my senior year. So I would have to say about two and a half years."
"Thank you. Nothing further, your honor."
"Your witness, Counselor," Judge Kellerman said.
"Miss Copeland, how did you exactly meet the Copeland family?"
"They had come over to meet us when we had moved here and we had grown up together. I was close to the family, still am."
"I see. Now you have said that they had helped you with the divorce, correct?'
"Yes, they had helped me get through it."
"Did they explain everything that was going on?"
"Yes, they made sure that I was aware of everything that was happening to me and with the divorce."
"Did you know that your parents wanted you back after the divorce happened?"
"No, I didn't. My biological parents never told me how they felt and everything. They never communicated with me about their true feelings."
"They don't talk with you about what they feel about anything?"
"Yeah, they don't talk to me about anything. They do talk about what needs to be done and everything. That's it."
"Really, from what I understand from Mr. Kim is that he told you what needs to be done and everything. Do you remember any of that?"
"I do remember him telling me that he didn't approve of my grades and stuff like that, but when he said it, he always yelled at me. Showing anger and remorse."
"I see. So you never talked to your parents about what you felt?"
"Oh, I knew that it was against the Asian culture to do that, so I respected that. That's why I went over to Adam's, because I knew I could get my feelings out to them and they understood. They had always encouraged me with everything that I did in school."
"Thank you. No more questions."
"Would you like to cross examine?"
"No, not at this time."
"The witness may step down."
~End Flashback~
All of this had happened during the winter break. I was glad that it happened during the break and not during school. The trial went great; my biological father was sent to jail with no possible parole and for life. I was so excited to hear that happen. My biological mother and I still keep in touch. We have been building our friendship and she has been telling me what was going on and everything. I didn't even know that my mother was forced to marry that man, which totally disgusts me. I was totally in shock. I finally understood where I came from and everything. I was finally thrilled that I was getting my life together. I am still training and was going to be valedictorian at graduation and everything. Everything was going smooth for me. I even had an interview with Vince McMahon of WWF and he said that I could start working with them as soon as I graduate from high school. Adam was already working for WWF as Edge with Jay as Christian. I have been watching them and I love their storylines. Adam and Jay come home whenever possible and talk with me. They have already introduced me to many of the wrestlers. I have traveled with them during the summer. So I was basically everyone's little sister. Though I have to admit that I had the hugest crush on Matt and Jeff hardy. It was hard for me to choose between the both of them. I couldn't wait to get started.
