How To Get Into College

How do I get into my dream school without taking a dozen AP's and being the president of eight clubs? That's quite a common question asked by young people today. But what if there was a way you could get into a better college than all your friends but still live life to the fullest?

I've been loving this book by Cal Newport, called How To Be A High School Superstar. It explains "a revolutionary plan to get into college by standing out (without burning out)".

Check it out here:
http://calnewport.com/books/high-school-superstar/

The book tells the stories of multiple students with average grades but not-so-average personalities.

Paraphrased from How To Be A High School Superstar:

          Let's use the example of Kara. In 2004, Kara visited a college counselor at an elite Bay Area private high school. The counselor flipped through a file containing Kara's details, and concern flashed across her face. "So, how are your grades going to be this semester?" the counselor asked.
          "Not as good as I hoped, probably some B's," Kara answered.
         Glancing down at the list of schools where Kara wanted to apply, the counselor asked, "Stanford has a ten percent acceptance rate. Do you know what that means?"
          Hesitatingly, Kara ventured, "One in ten get in?"
          "No. It means nine in ten get rejected. What makes you think you're better than nine other people?" Before Kara could respond, the counselor said pleadingly, "Kara, Stanford doesn't take students with B's."
          Kara's best friend Elizabeth was quite the opposite. She took so many AP's she might have broken the state record, and she even dropped a class because she got a B on the first quiz, and that decreased her chances of an A as a final grade. She also stayed away from classes that required creativity or natural ability, only caring about classes where she could attain an A by just raw effort.
          But Kara stayed true to herself, and when it came time to apply, she scraped together enough money to apply to twenty-one schools, as her dad refused to pay for that many schools.
          "I was freaked out that I wasn't going to get in anywhere," she recalls.
          But she did get in. In fact, she got into twenty out of twenty-one schools she applied to, including MIT, Caltech, Columbia, Cornell, Berkeley, Johns Hopkins, and, of course, Stanford.
     How did Kara shatter the unshakable confidence of the regular stressed-out students who thought stress is the only way to stand out? She was a "relaxed superstar".

          Relaxed superstars are students who live relaxed and happy lives. The topic of college admissions doesn't dominate their lives, which gives them more time to do things that will actually matter in the application process. Cal Newport notes, "Perhaps the most striking trait of these students is their happiness. Spending time with them, I have been astonished by how much they seemed to enjoy their lives."

Moral of the story: Do what makes you happy. Be genuinely interesting. Don't shut down your inner voice. And when it comes time to apply, you'll breeze through the admissions process like a superstar.

Part 3: The Serpent

Yes, it's been, like, forever. So why don't we jump right into Part 3 of the adventures of Zenith Whytheblanc as he prepares to find out the truth about the strange young girl.

Before you read Part 3...

Part 1: The Storm
Part 2: Zenith


          The door creaked open. Zenith stepped inside, glancing carefully about him. The shed seemed to be constructed of corrugated iron. Wet straw was strewn across the floor. The air was musty. A ray of early sunshine slanted in through the window. Dawn was breaking. He kicked the wet straw against the wall, until it formed a sort of bed. Then he went back outside and hurriedly picked up the young girl and carried her inside, closing the door behind him. As gently as possible, he lay the girl on the bed. Whirrrr... Zenith took a startled step back. He heard it again. Whirrrr... He gazed about him, searching for its source. Then he saw it. The girl's eyes were glowing a startling shade of green. Her body was surrounded by a strange mist, tinged with aquamarine. Zenith took a step back. Another step. Another step. He stretched his arms out behind him, his gaze never straying from the possessed maiden. He felt something cold and wet. It was the wall. Dropping his hands to his sides, Zenith slid to the ground. Pressing himself against the wall, he stared, petrified, as the young girl began to twist and writhe. He whimpered like a baby as he watched with wide eyes. Then suddenly everything stopped. The whirring noises, the greenish glowing, the writhing. Zenith remanied still, apprehensive and afraid. Zenith remained still. A minute passed. Two minutes. Three. Zenith took a deep breath, and slowly began inching towards the body. He crawled on all fours until he reached her body. Then he slowly stood up. Zenith struggled to see through the magical mist that surrounded her. As the mist cleared, he saw the girl's wound. But it wasn't a wound anymore. To Zenith, it looked like a sort of a nest -- a shallow indentation that didn't seem to be solid. It was more like a ripple, or half a bubble. Zenith couldn't figure out what it was, but whatever it was, it wasn't earthly. And what lay in that "nest" surprised Zenith the most. It was a snake. It slithered throught the wet straw and began to coil around Zenith's ankles.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Next time: Zenith finally gets to know the truth about the girl, but so many more questions remain unanswered.

Picture credit: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=9107879

Part 2: Zenith

Hopefully you enjoyed the first installment of this story. If you haven't read it, check it out here: Part 1! I'm hoping to make these short stories into a collection. If you like my blog posts, be sure to comment, +1, and reshare! Without further ado, here's Part 2! That rhymes.


          It was midday when he saw it. That familiar glint. It was impossible to miss. As he came nearer, he heard something squelch under his shoe. He looked down to see a puddle of blood rising up around his ankles. He froze. Then, his heart pounding, he gingerly stepped out of the pool of blood and began walking, quiet as a mouse, following the bloody trail. He turned the corner. And there before him was the body of a young girl, impaled with his dagger. He couldn't believe his eyes. He hadn't even thought anyone had survived the deluge. But to find them dead, killed by his dagger? Unthinkable. With tears blurring his vision, he knelt down next to her. He touched her pale hand. It was cold as ice. A shiver ran up his spine. Gently, he touched her forehead with the back of his hand. To his surprise, it was pleasantly warm. His gaze traveled down to her heart. Something strange was going on, he could feel it. He looked closer. Taking a deep breath, he placed his hand on the hilt of the dagger and wrapped his fingers around it. His knuckles turned white as he grasped the dagger. Then he pulled. Suddenly his hand slipped. He looked down in surprise. The girl's heart was beating. It was beating! But the dagger was being pulled deeper into the wound with the beating of the heart. He grabbed the hilt and began pulling, hard. His breathing labored, he struggled to prevent his hand itself being dragged into the girl's body. It was a gruesome sight, but it gave him a glimmer of hope. Finally he pulled the dagger out and collapsed on the cold, bloodied ground, panting. He closed his eyes. He no longer heard the rythmic thumping of the heart. When he had regulated his breathing once more, he opened his eyes and stood up. He returned to the side of the young girl. The dagger was in his hand, and strangely, it didn't have a trace of blood on it. The girl's wound was nearly invisible, just a thin line down her chest, silvery in color. He gazed in awe around him. There was no blood to be seen. The ground was just wet, gray stone. Suddenly, he saw the girl's eyelids flutter. A whisper of breath escaped her lips. He stared at her pretty face in disbelief. She appeared to be in some kind of entranced sleep. He held the dagger in his shaking hands. "Z.W." he breathed. Zenith Whytheblanc. He had named himself "Zenith", since he felt it gave him power. Somehow, it did. But how... He snapped out of his daydream. With a deep breath, Zenith slid his hand under the girl and placed it against the small of her back. She was surprisingly light. He placed his other hand under her knees. Slowly but steadily, he lifted her up, off the ground. Zenith walked down the alley and into the streets. He felt the girl's long brown tresses on his arm as the wind blew them to and fro. He looked down at her face. It was beautiful. Her face was small and her skin was smooth. Her nose was petite, with an aristocratic point. Her lips were perfectly rounded and parted slightly as she breathed. Zenith kept walking. After an interminable time, he felt a shadow fall over him. He looked up. The ruins of an old shed loomed up a little ways ahead of him. Zenith broke into a run. As he neared the structure, he slowed. He gently lay the girl on the ground. Zenith rose to his feet and placed his hand on the door.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Picture credit: http://lilliemcferrin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/dark-darkness-girl-light-lost-Favim.com-118417.jpg

Part 1: The Storm

You know, I've noticed that whenever I write a dramatic/sad story, the main characters always end up in some kind of stormy, gloomy place. So here's another dramatic vocab paragraph. Part 2 coming soon! (Part 2 won't be a vocab paragraph)

          She gazed across the glassy surface of the small puddle of water. Little rivulets branched off from it and slowly evaporated. A cataclysmic storm had just passed through the valley, wiping out the town. The rain had come in torrents, and the streets had flooded. The river overflowed, bringing an abundance of water to the parched crops. But in addition to blanketing the arid landscape, the water swept away hundreds of people, leaving the city lonely, wet, and deserted. She began walking among the destroyed streets, and she felt empty inside. The deluge had taken everything from her. She wanted to sit down and cry, but she didn't have the energy. More than sad, she was absolutely indignant. How could life be so unfair? It appeared she was the only one left of everyone in their village. How was she to survive without food or companionship? Her life would depreciate until it was of no value at all. The immense gravity of the situation hit her just then, and she collapsed onto the ground, her chest heaving. Her mother, who had always blamed her for everything that went wrong, now seemed like an angel. Her father, who had left her mother two years ago, must be alive somewhere, but she didn't know where. She couldn't believe everything was gone. It had all disappeared so fast. Suddenly, she saw something glint in the distance. She began crawling towards it on all fours, breathing quietly as she came near. She gasped. It was a dagger. She picked it up and ran her fingers over the jeweled hilt. The initials ZW had been etched into the blade. There's not much point to my life, she thought to herself. The truth, like the storm, washed over her, and finally came to light. All at once, she lifted the dagger and drove it through her heart. A bloodcurdling scream split the valley as blood mingled with dirty water. Then everything was still. Absolutely still.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Picture credit: http://martinjclemens.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/rain-wallpaper1.jpg

My Fair Lady: Movie Review + MSPDP Nationals

Before I do anything else, I would like to congratulate +Ria Pradhan +Esha Deokar +Shreya wêya +Pippa Hemmings and Ayush Gupta (can someone tag him?) on their achievements at the MSPDP Nationals this past weekend. You guys did amazing! I'm so glad I had the chance to debate on a team with all of you, and thank you for an amazing experience. Thank you also for all the time +Nayan Naik +Nidhi Kumar Kalra +Purvi Hazari-Naik put in to help us succeed. And of course, no one can forget Mrs. Toutem, the best teacher, mentor, friend, and debate coach we could possibly have.

Okay. Now here's what I really wanted to write about. I wanted to do something different this time. First of all, I'm going to write for you a movie review. Secondly, I'm not going to review a new movie, but an old one. My family chose to drive to Pasadena (for the Nationals) rather than fly, so it was basically six hours of eternal boredom for me. I decided to watch a movie. I was looking through the movies we had, and I found one called My Fair Lady. I thought I'd give it a try, and as it turns out, I don't regret it.

My Fair Lady
Reviewed by Riya Kalra

My Fair Lady (1964), directed by George Cukor, is about an arrogant phonetics expert, Dr. Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison), who sees a poor flower girl with a heavy Cockney accent, Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn), selling flowers on the streets and makes a bet with a new acquaintance, Colonel Hugh Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White), that Dr. Higgins will be able to pass the girl off as a duchess just by teaching her how to speak like one. The movie is about Eliza's struggles with learning how to be a graceful, polite woman in society and dealing with Dr. Higgins's conceited nature. She learns how to find her way independently and lives a happy life.

I loved Audrey Hepburn's performance in this movie; of course, we all know her as the epitome of timeless beauty and effortless grace. She portrays the character of Eliza in such a comical and perfect way, from her awkward ways to her hilarious accent. Hepburn makes watching Eliza transform from a flower seller on the streets into a respectable lady so much fun!

The movie won eight Oscars, three Golden Globes, and other awards. I haven't seen the version with Julie Andrews as the lead, but I can say that this movie is worth a try.

My Fair Lady leaves the viewer with a sense of contentment, compassion, and adoration for Eliza. This movie might be fun to watch as a family, but it's just as great by yourself.


Comment below to let me know how you liked my review and if you'd like to see more. Please suggest any movies if you'd like me to review them. DFTBA!

Why Writing Blog Posts Is So Hard

My blog is a place for me to express my ideas and create a corner of the Internet that just screams "me".  And whenever I have an idea, I sit down at my laptop and start typing. But sometimes it is just so impossible to come up with ideas...

I'm not the kind of person who can come up with ideas when they need them. I don't find ideas — they come to me. And then sometimes those ideas go on vacation. For a really, really long time. They feel no pity for me, lying around, racking my brain for ideas. But they just refuse to return. Eventually, they trickle back into my head, and I start trying to choose between them. I realize how horrible these ideas are. They didn't deserve a vacation! But I have to choose one, so I do. And I write. And write. And write. Okay, so that idea wasn't so bad after all. But wait... ugh. Now I have to write a title. Google: Blog Title Generator. "Enter 3 words (preferably nouns) that your blog post is about." Well, how about "ideas", "books", "inspiration". 

Here are your titles: 

1. Why We Love Ideas (And You Should, Too!) 
2. What Will Books Be Like In 100 Years? 
3. 15 Best Blogs To Follow About Inspiration 
4. 10 Signs You Should Invest In Ideas 
5. 14 Common Misconceptions About Books

Yeah..no. 

Why we love ideas? Hey, we do not love ideas. At all.  What will books be like in 100 years? Um, holograms? I dunno... 15 blogs to follow? Well, that's okay, I guess. But where am I going to find fifteen  blogs solely about inspiration? And who has that kind of time, anyway? Okay....why would I INVEST in ideas? Misconceptions about books...they are written by people who have actual ideas?

AARGH! There they go again. No more ideas.

Well, my rant is over. This is why I don't write so often anymore. No more ideas. Zero. Zilch. Zip. Nada. 

Ciao for now!

— Riya

Picture source: serc.carleton.edu

Sorrow and Revenge — A Short Story

This is another one of those paragraphs I write for my English class. I know some of the vocabulary is too fancy for the piece, but I had to fit the words in somewhere! It also has a dark theme, which is different from my previous paragraphs. Enjoy!

          She peered out anxiously from the shadows. She heard loud, angry voices in the distance. The men were chasing after her brother, who was acting as a decoy while she escaped. Suddenly a gun shot followed by a bloodcurdling scream split the air. She ran, her feet pounding hard on the cement. Tears and mud streaked her face as she turned the corner. It started raining, adding to the gloomy milieu. Her legs burned with pain as the rain drenched her. Her wet hair whipped her as she ran furiously, never slowing. Her brother was dead. A calamitous accident had killed her parents just a year ago, and now she was on the run, escaping the cause of her pain. The only family she had left now was her aunt, who was shiftless but extremely cruel. Her aunt's goons we after her, while her aunt basked in her own filth back in her luxurious mansion. She turned into a deserted alleyway and ducked behind a trash can. It was raining heavily now, and she pulled some old newspapers around her to try to keep warm. She thought of how her mother used to be so pert and positive, but now her memory only brought sadness and regret. She tried to distract herself by digging through the trash can, but she found nothing to appease her voracious appetite. She leaned against the cold wall in despair. She slid to the ground, fondly remembering her parents and her brother, the warm meals they used to share, and the stories her father often regaled them with. Her brother's strange quirks used to drive her crazy, but she missed them now that he was gone. All at once, she snapped out of her reminiscing when she heard a loud yell. Deep voices approached. Tall figures blocked the dim light from the street. She held her breath and pressed herself against the wall. These men were dangerous, especially because they were brave. It wasn't gallantry; rather it was a fear of nothing. As soon as they were after someone a long chase always ensued. Their victims never escaped. The men advanced into the alley. She froze, listening. Then she saw them. They stepped in front of her. She heard one of the men cackle menacingly. They were quite overbearing, and she shrank back in fear. The accident flashed through her mind. The smiles, the laughter, then, the next moment, the crash and the blood. The tears began afresh, flowing down her cheeks, fast and warm. She was going to avenge her parents death. She stood up. A man fired at her. She ducked, and the bullet tore through the wall behind her. She raised her fist and punched the man closest to her, hard. He reeled back in pain. The men fired their guns, She grabbed the metal lid of the trash can, and, using it as a shield, kicked someone in the shin. She thrashed and flailed angrily, hitting everything in her way. She knocked the revolver out of one goon's hand and drove him to the ground. Suddenly, all was silent. She gazed upon the dead men around her. Then she turned on her heel and walked out into the street. 

http://www.hdwallpaperpc.com/show-wallpaper/falling_rain_Canopy_dark_eyes_GRAY_Rainy_Splash_Water_wave_137591.html

3 Websites/Blogs You Need To Follow

This is just a random list of sites I find interesting and unique, and you should check them out!

1. Science Friday

"Science Friday is your trusted source for news and entertaining stories about science. We started as a radio show, created in 1991 by host and executive producer Ira Flatow. Since then, we’ve grown into much more: We produce award-winning digital videos and publish original web content covering everything from octopus camouflage to cooking on Mars. SciFri is brain fun, for curious people."
I believe this is also a podcast on NPR--I've heard it once, and it was great!

2. BuzzFeed

News, animals, books, beauty, travel, celebrities, politics: You can find it all at BuzzFeed. "BuzzFeed is the social news and entertainment company. BuzzFeed is redefining online advertising with its social, content-driven publishing technology. BuzzFeed provides the most shareable breaking news, original reporting, entertainment, and video across the social web to its global audience of more than 200M." Although it has been controversial in the past, and still is, to some extent, I personally like the site, and you should too!

3. One Good Thing by Jillee

This is a blog that I love. Jill Nystul, the author, has shared her inspiring story with people on her "About" page. She suffered from alcohol addiction, but worked hard to overcome it and has now found her passion in writing her blog. She posts about DIY's to make your home a prettier place, to cook better, to organize better, to cure colds and common ailments, and so much more. Jill Nystul is now publishing a book called One Good Life, in which she shares "my tips, my wisdom, and my story".

5 Books To Read While You're Still A Kid

"There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away", and these books are perfect for just that.

1. Wonder

By R.J. Palacio

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. Wonder, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

2. Stargirl
By Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first. Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love.

3. I Am Malala
By Malala Yousafzai

A MEMOIR BY THE YOUNGEST RECIPIENT OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

"I come from a country that was created at midnight. When I almost died it was just after midday."

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive. Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she became a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize.

4. Three Cups of Tea
By Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard. Anyone who despairs of the individual’s power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools—especially for girls—that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson’s quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.


5. The Mysterious Benedict Society Series
By Trenton Lee Stewart

"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?"

When this peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you, dear reader, can test your wits right alongside them.) But in the end just four very special children will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. As our heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their newfound friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all?

Welcome to the Mysterious Benedict Society.

P.S. - Today's Google Doodle celebrates Laura Ingalls Wilder! After you read these books, go read the Little House Series! :-)

5 Easy Ways To Start (And Keep) A Diary

Admit it, we've all tried keeping a diary and failed. Some of us possess the willpower necessary to faithfully write on paper (gasp!) with a pen/pencil, but the truth is, most of us don't. A diary helps improve your writing skills, and also helps with getting your emotions out. It also provides a way to look back at how the past was from your own point of view. Here are five ways to start and keep a diary.


1. Find a notebook you actually like.

Visit your local craft or office supply store and find a notebook or journal that you like. Look at different patterns, shapes, and sizes; maybe even the texture of the cover. Once you find something you actually like, you will be more motivated to write in it. Of course, you can do this online, but writing on paper has a different feel to it. You can also experiment with different pens and pencil colors to give your diary a unique touch.


2. Start writing!

Don't worry about writing with fancy language or grammar. Just put pen to paper and get your thoughts out. It's your diary, not a school report. No one is going to read it (unless you let them), and it's better when it's not perfect. Your day doesn't have to be particularly interesting at all! All you have to do is write about it. You can write about how boring it was, if you like. Over time, faithfully keeping a diary leads to much better writing skills and more self-awareness.


3. Have some adventures!

If you really don't know what to write, take a break! Do something you find enjoyable or interesting. Then write about it. It doesn't have to be something unique or important. Maybe take a walk, read a book, or start a new TV series. Go grocery shopping or walk the dog. It doesn't matter to anyone but you.


4. Listen to music. 

Music, especially classical music, can help you focus and get the creative juices flowing. Listen to a soothing, relaxing tune for best results, though any type of music works.


5. Develop a routine.

The best way to keep a diary is to develop a habit. If you have a nighttime routine that you follow, maybe add in five minutes of writing before bed. Keep your diary by your bed so you remember. You can also write in it every morning, if you like, but writing at night helps you organize the events of the day and remember various moments of the day that you will most likely forget the next day. If something exciting happens or you feel that you may forget something later, feel free to jot it down somewhere, even if it doesn't fit your routine. Most of all, be creative and have fun with it!

Sapna — Chapter 1

Well...Two posts in a day! What a record! :-) Anyway, I have taken a long break from my other story about Jazz and the dragons, and I decided to write another story that is a little more realistic. Here's a bit of the first chapter. Let me know how you liked it!

Chapter 1

“Good morning, bitiya. Did you sleep well?” Sapna opened her eyes and rubbed them groggily. Her mother was sitting by the foot of her bed, smiling down at her. She had pulled the curtains open, and the sun was pouring in through the windows. Sapna’s mother liked to call her bitiya, an endearing Hindi word for daughter. “Yes Amma, I will come downstairs soon. What’s for breakfast?” Sapna asked excitedly. Her stomach was growling. Amma, her mother, smiled. “Your favorite!” And she hurried downstairs.

Sapna leapt out of bed and ran to the bathroom. She hurriedly showered and dressed, then flew down the stairs as the enticing aroma of breakfast wafted up to meet her. “Pancakes!” Amma exclaimed as soon as Sapna entered the kitchen. “With syrup?” Sapna inquired. “With syrup,” Amma replied, and Sapna enveloped her slender mother in a warm hug.

The feast was all laid out on the table when a knock sounded on the door. Sapna ran to open it and found herself being lifted into the air and spun around. “Papa!” she screamed with ecstasy. Amma stood by the window, smiling, as the sun slanting in turned her hair a beautiful shade of gold. Putting Sapna down and coming over to Amma, Papa embraced her, and she laughed. “Come now, you must be tired. You are just in time for breakfast!”

The family dug in. After they had all satisfied their ferocious appetites, Sapna asked Papa, “So how was your day at work?” Papa often worked overnight for little pay. “Well, one of our clients found a bug with the software we provided them and I spent the night fixing it.” Amma sighed. “Sapna, why don’t you go upstairs and work on your painting? Papa and I have to talk about something.” Hanging her head, Sapna obediently went upstairs.

“A touch of blue there, and now her hair. Hmm...let’s see...blonde! Yes, blonde.” And with a few smooth, quick brushstrokes, the painting was finished. Sapna stepped back to admire her work. A pretty blonde girl with startlingly blue eyes the color of the sky stared back at her. Sapna always dreamed of going to America. She knew it was the land of promises, where no one worked overnight for just a few rupees. Where children ate pancakes and candy every day, where they frolicked to school on clean buses that drove on clean streets in clean cities. Where students at high schools put textbooks in lockers and went from class to class, learning from teachers. Where they didn’t have to go to the library to check out a huge stack of forty books to learn what Sapna wanted to learn. Adults and children lived in harmony. They swarmed crowded cities with loud music and beautiful beaches, clean beaches. Snap out of it, thought Sapna. You’re never going there. “Hi! What’s up? Howdy, partner!” she said, in a Southern American accent, giggling to herself.

“Sapna? Beta, come down please,” Amma’s voice floated up to Sapna’s room. She went down and took a seat at the dining table. Amma took a deep breath. “We have made a decision, Sapna.” Sapna stared at Amma inquisitively. “We have decided to send you to a high school in America.”

Sapna immediately jumped up from the table. “What? America? I can’t believe it! Sachchi? For real?” She pranced around the table once, then hugged her parents tightly. Amma smiled, but her eyes were filled with sadness. “But you will have to leave your grandparents, friends, and pets behind.” Sapna stopped and frowned. “But Arya is my sweet, sweet goat! She won’t do anything wrong. I promise she’ll be good,” she pleaded. “No,” said Amma, turning away from the table and busying herself with a greasy pot. And that was the end of the discussion. Sapna’s unconditional love for Amma told her to keep her mouth shut, so she quietly stepped out of the house.