An Evening Before the Board

Since middle school I’d sit and watch the school board meetings on television, my Mom translates for the school district, so my viewing was mostly based on her presence, in particular,  my astonishment of knowing someone broadcasted on television. Wednesday nights, as I sat criss-cross applesauce on my green couch, the big words and abstract concepts spoken by members of the board flew right over my head. However, the part that my bumpkin middle school self could understand was when members of the community would approach the podium and voice their gratitude, complaints, or objective opinions. That has always been my favorite part. Tonight, the Ivy League Connection got the opportunity to speak in front of the board to introduce us scholarship recipients and extend our endless gratitude to the school district. 

My family and I were the first to arrive at  Lovonya Dejean Middle School, not just the first from the Ivy League Connection group, but the first from the regular crowd of school board meeting attendees. When we arrived there were two board members seated on the stage, the camera crew adjusting their paraphernalia, and a man seated at the front table straightening out the stacks of the meeting’s agenda. Soon enough people began to file into the multipurpose room. As usual, when the faces of my lovely cohort and chaperone walked through the door, my posture corrected itself, I shifted in my seat eagerly, and a smile spread across my face. 

As soon as everyone was present, Don laid it on us: we are allotted five minutes for our presentation, first Don will introduce the Ivy League Connection, next Shreejal Luitel will speak for 75 seconds (representing the Chicago cohort), then Hawi Abraham will speak (representing the Vanderbilt cohort), Don will wrap it up with a few last words, and lastly we will go outside for a group picture. 

During the evening,  we sat in the front row, sporting our Ivy League Connection banner. Which, as we hilariously noticed, doesn’t have the actual sigils of the Ivy League Schools, since they are copyrighted. Instead, they are similar sigils, just with minor tweaks: such as the phrase “Go Bears”, surfers riding on diplomas, and unicorns.

Looking over Hawi's speech 

When the meeting started, we listened to members of the community congratulate district employees for their exceptional work and outline the efforts of certain committees. Then, it was our turn. Shreejal and Hawi spoke very well (and very fast), representing the Ivy League Connection stellarly. While they spoke, our chaperones stood off to the side, the UChicago and Vanderbilt cohorts held the Ivy League Connection banner facing the board, and Don hastily took pictures. 

The presentation ended as soon as it started. As we exited the building for a group picture, Mister Phillips, a member of the board, approached us, offered his congratulations and a firm handshake. I was surprised by this thoughtful act since Don mentioned earlier that the board members never bother to come off the stage to take pictures with or congratulate us ILCers. Thanks, Mister Phillips.

Once outside, Don, with his mastery in photography, arranged us by height, gender, and age to produce a great picture. Which evidently, he did. 

2018 Ivy League Connection

As we said our goodbyes, Don reminded us that the next time we will see each other will be at the break of day, with our tired, yet excited faces, pounds of luggage, and sad parents. I can’t wait for that day to come!