There Is More To Life Than Work! (01)

I am already excited to see what today has to offer!

It was only 6 AM, yet Beth had already rolled out of bed. She tiptoed in front of the window and was greeted with a picturesque view. In front of her, a giant splash of bright pink had gently melted in the blue sky, with small curled clouds decorated by the side. The cityscape glowed more rosy with the first golden beams by the woken sun. Under this sunrise, the Laurel City rose from its peaceful slumber.

Another day of hustle-bustle had begun.

Beth felt a rising coziness from her heart as she looked far away into the cityscape. The vibrant colors of the sunrise got her mind wandering. She had already started to feel more confident in herself after the success of the runway show. Not to mention that she slowly saw herself integrated into the city as one of the numerous little people finding themselves.

Just look at those people enjoying the sunlight! One day, there would be a bright future waiting for me as well. Her heart was ignited with passion. She was slowly starting to get used to the Laurel life. Now, she wanted to achieve more, and reach her idealized magical self one day.

During the morning, she met up with Jules and Simone during her halfway to school. She was just about to talk to them about the runway show update.

"LADIES! Did you all check your email yet?"

"Not yet, Bee! What's happening?" Simone asked.

"I think I know what you are talking, Beth." Julianna joined the conversation. "Is that the email from the runway show committee?"

"That's the one, Jules! Both of our work and Simone's work will be shown at the local museum as a new student show. There will also be an opening for the event, which all the participating student artists will be joining. Is the new museum the one you mentioned with the historical exhibition?"

"Yes, it is." Julianna nodded.

"This couldn't possibly be! Are you sure about that?"

"Yeah! Networking with talents!" Simone was also delighted about the networking opportunity.

"It sounds really cool, but I am not sure if I should go with you guys as well. See, I am not an art student, and I don't actually do art that much before this project. This might not be the place that suits me."Julianna said.

"There's nothing to worry about that, Jay. You have been a participant of the project, so your effort deserves to be seen." Simone patted Julianna's shoulder.

"Besides, we are a team, Jules. We would not have achieved success in the project without your hard work."

"Cool, cool! Thank you guys, though." Julianna grinned. Although she didn't directly say that she wanted to go for the event, she liked the idea because it would provide her the opportunity to learn more about the artists' approach to things. However, she was still not sure if she could go due to her busy schedule. It would be better for her to bring it up with her two friends.

"There's one more thing that I am concerned about—I am very busy with my other activities as well. I have an important thing on my schedule to finish today. Thus, I need some time to think about if I can attend the event."

"Jules, can I ask what that important thing is?"

"I am meeting with a counselor to discuss my college choices this lunchtime. You guys don't need to wait for me today if the session takes so long."

"This early?!"

Both Beth and Simone stopped stared at Julianna with a startled expression. The first semester of high school just started, and neither of them had already adjusted to Laurel Prep yet. There, Julianna suddenly announced that she had already been preparing for her college application.

Gosh, she was really embodying the competitive Laurel Prep culture!

✨

During lunchtime, Beth and Simone grabbed a round table of three and dropped their bags by the table. The cafeteria was packed with people; loud talking could be heard from every corner. Simone looked around, trying to find Julianna by identifying her signature blue hair. Unfortunately, she didn't see any blue-haired girl among the masses. Julianna must still be at the meeting.

"Who even discusses college choices this early?" a mildly disgruntled Beth played with her lunch casually with her fork.

"Jay--You know her. She is very organized and high achieving. I bet she has straight As. You can never estimate how many hours she secretly puts into her work after school." Simone chuckled and leaned towards Beth to make a scary face at her.

"And you can never know whether she secretly thinks that we are bothersome, hee hee...."

"I don't believe in you, Sims." A scared Beth almost jumped out of her seat and pushed Simone away. "JULES WOULD NEVER THINK THAT!"

"Anyways, let's just wait for some time longer. Jay takes her academic commitments seriously."

Just as Simone had mentioned, Julianna indeed viewed her meeting session as a significant opportunity to know more about college programs that might suit her. To be more precise, a chance for her to bring up her choices of competitive programs, and ask what she needed to do to get in.

Her dream was to become an oceanographer.

She first became intrigued by the sciences after reading an old illustrated encyclopedia found in the library. The vast solar system, the colorful natural minerals, the formation of mountains and glaciers...all the 'hows' and 'whys' of nature filled her little mind with wonders and visions. Intrigued by the descriptions of scientific concepts on her encyclopedia, she decided to visit the natural history museum. When she found herself wandering around the museum for a whole day appreciating all the specimens, she knew that she wanted to use science as a unique language to explore the stories of earth further.

Over the years, she had stuck with her goal wholeheartedly. She took on an interest in traveling, followed by her academic interest in earth and the ocean. She tried diving. Not to mention she also got into Laurel Prep.

Now, she was sitting across the counselor solemnly in the meeting room, waiting for the counselor to direct her to her dream through higher education.

"Great academic credentials till now, a successful runway fashion project, innovation club, science club, and one independent research already...you have a good package, Julianna. Where are you thinking about applying to so far?" The counselor asked.

"Lisette University, Laurel Tech, Ronald Jameson Academy for the Advancement of Science and Art, and Edith Markinswell College."

"No safety schools? Do you know that Ronald Jameson Academy only has a 5% acceptance rate? Besides, you've got competition. You know Hildegard, right?"

Hildegard was one of the most distinguished students at Laurel Prep--a living embodiment of the perfect balance between academics and social life.

"She's pretty popular. I don't know her on a personal level, though. Is she going to apply as well?"

"Yes. Hildegard has a perfect score, and she had already been the elected student counselor for two years. Besides that, she gained a National Biology Olympiad metal already."

"That's impressive!" Julianna gasped. "How can I increase my chances to get in Ronald Jameson myself then? Would attending a summer program help?"

"Yes, that could work. But here are some things I want to ask you, Julianna. I want to know you first..."

Julianna listened more carefully. However, what she heard completely surprised her.

"What was your favorite childhood memory?"

"But this is not related to college application..."

"Oh well, then another one." The counselor said. "I am asking these questions because they may help you in your college essay in the future—What is one insecurity that you recently have had and wanted to improve on?"

Miller, were you an abandoned child?

Julianna bit her lip, and her mind went blank. She tried to grasp some pieces from her memory, yet there was an invisible wall between herself and her inner emotions.

"I am stressed about improving my academics for sure..." she only uttered a few words, "umm...maybe trying to do my best in the runway program, and learning new things that I am interested in, like the philosophy of astronomy..."

"Julianna, you are a smart student, but you are interpreting my question wrong. One last question, and you may get what direction I am asking—how would you describe your relationship with your best friend?"

Now, Julianna became tongue-tied.

She has never had a best friend growing up. Very early in her life, she had realized that kids were biased and couldn't be helped. Other students either dismissed her, laughed at her family, or socialized with her because they were related as classmates in a class. Because of that, she simply walked away silently, ignoring any of her classmates who spread rumors about her. She also refused to relate to any of them. When everyone was busy broadcasting their lives on social media, she opted out of it. When a party that lots of people got invited took place, she walked alone to class, wondering when the party was even brought up. When she made an achievement, no one was by her side to celebrate with her.

Over time, she transitioned from being the target of bullying to the kid that everyone overlooked and forgot.

No one left traces in her heart, nor has she made an impact in someone else's life.

It was as if she had never existed.

What about Beth and Simone? For a moment, Julianna honestly thought about them. She had laughed with them and enjoyed their company. A few days earlier, Beth also said that she will always have a friend in her.

"You are like my partner in crime!" "You had always been so tough compared to me!" "I want you to know I am here for you."

Those words echoed again and again in her heart. Yet there was still something inside her that couldn't picture Beth as her best friends.

After all, who took the time to know about her over those years?

"Well, she certainly has a supportive relationship with me, and we would encourage each other on our mutual happiness and success. We would also go hang out a lot together..." Julianna's only solution was to make up her hypothetical best friend.

"Julianna, listen." The counselor sighed. "I know you are smart and capable, but maybe you should spend more time outside of academics as well. Have fun times with friends, express your gratitude to your family...anything along that line. Colleges don't just want people with good stats. Colleges want to see students with a good personality as well, who recognizes that life is more than work. I want you to succeed, but not only in your academics."