The Midway Point

Your grades are still a little...

If you say you're working on it, you're working on it.

It's no big deal.

I know you have social anxiety. I understand that.

I just don't wanna see you struggle.

Okay, guys.

Can anybody give me a quick summary

about what that last poem's about?

No one?

So, Langston Hughes likes to use

a lot of similes in his work.

That last one, about life without dreams

being like a wingless bird?

It's very similar. Right?

Does anyone remember "Raisin in the Sun"?

There are a lot of similes in there as well.

I asked her if I could have my assignment extended,

since I had a chorus meeting on Thursday,

and she straight up goes: "Oh, I don't give extended time.

You have as much time as everyone else, Sophia."

- Oh. - I know.

So, I tell her, nicely:

"Hey! Could you please make an exception, just this once?"

And she goes: "I'm not repeating myself again."

-Damn. -Right?

What a total bitch.

Here's the thing about Ms. Doukas, right?

She'll be nice if you're a fuckin' straight-A student

and you do all your work.

But if you have anything below... a C+?

She assumes they don't care about the class. "You're lazy."

Yes. That's what frustrates me the most!

- Yep. -

So, I had this really weird dream...

Did you hear that Drew tried sliding into Julia's DMs?

No. Like, Drew-Drew?

Yeah. So, he sent her this weird-ass meme

of some guy in the bathroom, but the full bathroom

is covered in bread slices.

Yeah, I've seen that one.

Yeah?

Anyways, Drew sends Julia the pic.

He's obviously trying to get her attention,

but then he's like:

"Oh, by the way? I really like you. Hah-hah."

Oh, God. Are you serious?

Julia sent me the screenshots

of the full convo earlier, and dude, it's a sight to behold.

Really? I wanna see them.

Whoa.

Way worse than I thought.

Anyways, what are you doing this weekend?

Yeah. Nice work, young lady.

Keep it up.

So, how was school today?

Fine. I think.

That's cool.

Get to draw anything fun in art class?

I drew a couple sketches and stuff,

but nothing that interesting.

Mm-hmm.

Well, you know, that'll come later, honey.

You just gotta keep at it.

It's just that...

Yeah? What?

I don't have that many ideas coming out of me,

and I don't know if it's school, or whatever.

I'm just worried

that I won't be accepted into any colleges because of it.

I mean, art schools won't take me

with the art portfolio I have right now.

You don't really know

what they're looking for in the portfolios.

And B: You just, you just, you need to...

You need to get out there and talk to some other people,

right?

Aren't there other people in your art or animation class,

or whatever?

There's three or four

that sit next to me.

I don't really talk to them.

And the.

Put yourself out there, okay?

Mom it's just.

So, what college do you wanna go to again?

Uh, I've been looking into

School of the Visual Arts and USC

'cause of their animation program,

and I started getting into film,

so, it'd be nice to.

to do that, there.

Okay, well, um.

Well, it says here that you have a 2.7 GPA.

Now, your English and elective grades are good,

but you have a D-minus in algebra,

and the teacher says you're missing assignments.

What's that about?

I don't know. Um.

A lot of the grades, he hasn't put in yet.

He said he's been really busy,

and that the grades would be put in by Wednesday.

Well, today is Wednesday.

Look, I know it's not what you wanna study,

but you have to keep up with your other classes.

Now, talent and skill are not enough, all right?

You need to build up your education, your repertoire,

and then you'll be in tip-top shape for college.

How about it?

Okay!

Now, let's take up our folders

and write down the daily warmup

on a piece of notebook paper.

The one on the board,

in case any of your eyes are buried in phones.

You have five minutes.

Go.

Time's up!

Okay. So, as most of you know,

hopefully know,

the chapter test

is up next.

Yeah, I know.

I know how exciting that sounds.

I'm excited, too.

Now, what we're gonna do is take this test,

beginning

on my countdown from five.

Four. Three.

Two.

Uh, Mr. Williams.

May I go to the bathroom?

Hi.

Hi.

You don't remember me?

Uh.

Wait. We, um.

We have sixth period English together.

Alice.

Right.

-You didn't remember me? - No.

I'm sorry.

I don't really pay attention in that class.

Seriously? That's like the only good class I have.

What are you doing now?

Um.

Taking a break, I guess?

Trying to relax for five minutes,

before I head back into reality.

What are you doing?

Nothing better to do, I guess.

Boredom.

What was your name again?

I'm Jake.

Right. Jake, Jake, Jake.

I hear your name during roll, but I forget it's you.

No, it's fine.

So, what do you do, Jake?

I, um.

I draw.

I want to be an animator.

I also do music, and I like film.

Um.

Yeah.

How about you?

Um.

I really wanna be a writer, but my family hates that.

They'd rather I do something boring in college,

like economics.