MY REPORT SLIP

And now for the all important unveiling of my report slip! Drum roll please!

I flipped the plastic file over and looked carefully and the sheet of printed paper. My first term's result from my first year at high school!

It took a while for me to orientate myself to the rows and columns of numbers and letters. Winderhill's report slip was surprisingly complicated and detailed and didn't give any alphabets like A, B, or C.

For every subject there was graded work and the end-term exam, adjusted to its correct percentage weightage (which would be indicated at the top of the column), and then added up to give a score out of a hundred. I think I did pretty well because I didn't get anything less than 89 - ironically for history but I messed up on that mid-term test by writing the lycan version of history instead of the human one.

And after the nice super satisfying row of numbers like 89.5%, 92.0%, 98.2%, 95.1%, 96.0%… we got to a column that was just filled up uniformly, "4.0". Like one long line of 4.0 as if they were using it as a column divider.

I looked to the top of the column. It said, "GPA."

And then it hit me. Like it really hit me like a punch in the face what the column for "4.0" meant. I traced it down with my finger to the bottom where there was a printed line and a single 4.0.

I scored a perfect GPA for my first term of high school.

Wow. The first thing I did was check to top for my name. I didn't think to do that earlier, but now I did.

This had never happened to me before. Usually, I was the kind of student who liked to bring home a wide variety of random alphabets. For every high there was a low, and my average would land me at a B, or B+ if I was lucky.

Okay, calm down Sam, I'm sure there was a logical explanation for this… I definitely didn't just get smarter overnight. Winderhill wasn't really an academically demanding school, so maybe it was the school's low standards. Jules said Winderhill made it easy for him to keep his GPA up so he could continue on his scholarship. Dean had told me before that my schools weren't New Leaf Academy, so I would naturally score better. BUT THIS… this was like Ben's result slip… with my name on it.

And then I remembered, it was Boo! Like I had pretty much answered my Geography Multiple Choice Test by my lucky sense of direction and Tada! 97.5%. I only got a B+ for my graded essay earlier in the term, so my Term Exam was full marks? I don't know, my math wasn't able to tell just by looking.

My math which scored 98.2%. Unbelievable.

Even my Art this year was a 4.0 (aka A). Art was usually a scrapping pass for me. I guess my "laissez faire" style moved my art teacher?

After the grades, there was some position numbers. I was 3/32 in class. Wow, I was smart! My "Conduct" was "Very good." And Mrs Henderson had typed into the Teacher's Remark: "Samantha is a quiet student who takes pride in her work. She gets along well with her peers and enjoys reading."

I read the line a few times trying to figure out how Mrs Henderson came up with something like that.

There were two other sheets of paper in the file. This was when I realized the large envelope wasn't just for the report slip, it was also for my "School Transfer Certificate".

This was pretty standard and looked really official with Winderhill's crest printed on top in color. It gave my name, age, current grade, last date of attendance, etc.

But then Madam Principal had left a handwritten remark just above her principal's signature.

"I would like to commend Samantha for her contribution to the music and theatre culture, her initiatives to better her school environment, and the selfless courage she displayed during her brief time with us. She has made us all proud, and we wish her every success in her new school."

I read these lines a few times too. I wasn't quite sure what to make of the handwritten remark on my School Transfer Certificate. And all the things she had listed, I wasn't sure how to feel about them either. Like did I want anyone in my new school to know about the music and theatre thing - especially since Madam Silvia was the Theatre teacher? And what did I initiate to better my school environment? Omo Was it the picnic area? Did she SEE River cast the warlock spell? Hopefully, it was just about my class pretending to pick up litter behind the school when we were searching for my lost baby hamster… I had no idea a single written remark could fill me with so many confusing feelings and questions.

The last document was two single-sided printed sheets. True to his word, Mr Devon had written a glowing (and long-winded) testimonial. He did promise that he would write one for everyone involved in the play, but I didn't expect him to actually do it.

Maybe one of the perks of having your English Teacher who graduated with honors in Literature was that your testimonial letter would be a literary work of art. Maybe I should frame this - no teacher had ever painted me in such a light. It was like a testimonial letter that could be used to apply for sainthood:

Samantha Kingsley Lorent is a keen student who conducts herself with decorum and poise. Her calm and polite demeanor coupled with her deep intellect often commands admiration and respect from her peers.

She is a conscientious and diligent student and takes pride in her work. She takes ownership of her tasks and is responsible and consistent with her assignments.

As her English Language and Literature teacher, I've had the privilege of being acquainted with her essays, which in themselves consistently set her a head and shoulders above the standard high school student.

Her argumentative essays, while oftentimes unorthodox, are well thought through, logically sequenced, and fluidly presented, demonstrating a sensibility beyond her years.

Her creative writing is youthful, but sensitive and often humorous, a breath of fresh air, and always a pleasure.

Samantha was one of the students that was hand selected for a special introductory theatre program where she proved herself not just adept at learning new skills, but also discovered her hidden talent for theatre.

She was fascinating as an actress, and was both spontaneous as she was meticulous in reprising her role. Her unpacking of her character was astutely and unapologetically honest, and then presented to the audience wrapped carefully with empathy and good humor.

Samantha is a strong team player, a positive influence, and a cheerful friend. All her teachers speak well of her and she is well liked by her peers as evidenced by the way they gravitate towards her at every opportunity.

A well-rounded and outstanding student, she performs consistently well in all areas of academics. Besides shining on the stage, Samantha also excels in sports, topping her cohort in Winderhill High's acclaimed archery club.

As a teacher, it had been my honor to have been one of the many in the line of teachers in Samantha's life. I wish her all the best as she moves on to a new chapter of her life.

Wow. Mr Devon really outdid himself.

This was probably going to be the best thing anyone in my life could ever make up about me. Maybe I should have it read during my eulogy… wait, no. It might make everyone have to stand up and check the plague to make sure they were attending the right funeral. Hahahaha.