Last Days At Forcard's Highschool

--- *THE LAST 30 DAYS OF FOCUS HIGH SCHOOL**Day 28 & 27: The Truth After The Lie* *DAY 28 - 6:15AM* I didn't sleep. How can you sleep when your whole house thinks you're going to UCLA and you have 3 rejection letters hidden under your mattress? Tasha's text was still on my screen: _"Girl tell her now before she checks Facebook. My mom already told yours she saw you crying at school."_ My mom was in the kitchen. Her Facebook post was still there. "My daughter is going to UCLA! To God be the glory!" 73 likes. Pastor had commented "God did it!" She was humming and making tea. She looked happy. That made it worse. "Mom... I need to tell you something." She turned. "Yes? About UCLA? Your father said he will send deposit on Friday." I swallowed hard. My voice was shaking. "Mom, I lied. I didn't get into UCLA. I didn't get into any of them. USC said no. Stanford said no. UCLA said no. I got the letters last week." The kitchen went silent. Even the kettle stopped whistling. She stared at me. "What do you mean you lied? You... you made me post that thing? You made me call your aunties in London?" "I'm sorry. I was ashamed. Everyone was already saying congratulations. I didn't know how to say I failed." She sat down slowly. I thought she would shout. Nigerian mothers shout. But she didn't. She just said, "Come here." I walked to her, shaking. She hugged me. Tight. Like when I was small. "So you think I love you because of UCLA? You think I carried you for 9 months for UCLA? If UCLA says no, does that mean you are not my daughter again?" I broke down. Full ugly cry on her wrapper. She wiped my face with her hand. "Go and delete that Facebook post. We will tell people the truth. And tomorrow you will go back to school with your head high. No admission does not mean no future. You hear me?" *DAY 27 - 8:00AM - FOCUS HIGH SCHOOL* This was the hardest part. Going back. Because of Mr. Daniels shouting "UCLA!" in the hallway on Day 29, EVERYONE thought I was going to UCLA. By Day 27, the whole school was greeting me "UCLA babe!" I wanted to disappear. First period, Maya ran to me. "Girl! My mom saw your mom's post! UCLA! You didn't even tell us!" Tasha looked at me from behind. She knew I told my mom last night. She gave me that "you got this" look. I stood up. My heart was beating like drum. "Guys... I need to say something. I didn't get into UCLA. My mom posted before I told her the truth. I got rejected from all three. I lied because I was embarrassed." The class went quiet. That type of quiet where you can hear AC. Then... nothing bad happened. Maya just said, "Girl... why didn't you tell us? We all got rejected from somewhere. I got rejected from NYU. Tasha got rejected from Columbia." Jake from back said, "I got rejected from 7 schools, I'm going to community college." Everyone started laughing and sharing their own rejection stories. I spent Day 27 learning that everyone was pretending to have it all figured out. I wasn't the only one lying. I was just the only one who finally told the truth. I went home and took off my Focus High School blazer. Day 27 is done. *Two Cent:* The lie feels safer than the truth, but the lie is heavier to carry. The moment you tell the truth, you realize everyone else is also scared. You are not alone. *Next: Day 26 - The college that said YES.* ---

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