#I lowered in English and improved in math

[lowcallyfruity]

MY SCORE LOWERED IM GONNA. KI I L. MYSELF

[analytically]

What's wrong with the schools in California?

So I'm Californian, and they make all the high school students here take a test of their English and math skills the year before they graduate. But, uh, looking at the data from these tests, it's really bleak?

Across the whole state of California (where 40 million people live), only 27% of high school students met the math standards! That's really terrible — this means that over 70% of California high schoolers don't know enough math for "likely success in entry-level, credit-bearing college coursework after high school." I'm not totally clear what exact skills these are, but when I took the test it was mostly Algebra II and Geometry questions — the sort of thing you might need even if you don't go to college. And while I don't think everyone needs to go to college, 70% of the population not being prepared for college seems too high.

(more analysis, and pictures, below the read more!)

This isn't an artifact of the pandemic, either: 2019 data shows that 32% of 11th graders met math standards before COVID, and it actually went up to 34% in 2021 (there was no testing in 2020). That's interesting, considering that many schools were closed to in-person instruction during 2020. Proficiency rates in math have fluctuated between 27% and 34% since 2015, but there certainly hasn't been a clear trend of improvement.

If you're disabled, learning English, or in the foster-care system, you have a less than 5% chance of being proficient in mathematics after 12 years in the California school system! (Learning English at the same time as learning mathematics in English does seem really hard under any circumstances, so maybe that one's not totally the school system's fault, but 2.5% is still way too low! English learners are three times more likely to be proficient in English language arts than in math!)

"But analytically," you say, "maybe this isn't the schools' fault! Maybe the kids just lack resources because of poverty and inequality and such!" Well, yeah, that probably isn't helping, but it definitely doesn't explain the whole problem. 17% of kids that California considers "socioeconomically disadvantaged" meet math standards, but only 43% of non-socioeconomically disadvantaged kids do! So even among kids whose families are doing OK financially, most aren't proficient in math. However, they are 2.5 times more likely to be proficient than their lower-income peers. (Also, last time I checked, the job of the public school system was to provide a good education regardless of socioeconomic status!)

The numbers are pretty bad for English language arts too, but math is a lot worse (and also I've technically worked in math education, so this is sort-of in my wheelhouse).

So, I repeat: What's wrong with the schools in California? How can we fix it?

[wevelocityteampresents-blog]

Pokémon Pocket Monsters XY Volume 1 - Chapter 2

Red and his Pokémon spend some time at a school to avoid the summer heat.

The adventure in Kalos has just begun. And in the second chapter, we get yet another filler chapter. And by filler, I mean nothing important really happens in this story.

We're only 2 chapters into this saga, and the first place Red and the others go to is a school. And it's not like a Trainer's school like what we've seen in Pokémon Pocket Monsters RS and DP. Just your average school that teaches stuff like math and English. There could have been so many new story ideas Anakubo could've played with like fishing for Skrelp or Clauncher on Route 2 or having Clefairy hunt down Vivillon with rare patterns in Santalune Forest for a prize. But instead of anything like that happening, we're treated to what's essentially a sleepover in an abandoned school. (I guess Red, Clefairy, Pikachu, and Conkeldurr have become squatters now.)

Speaking of wasted ideas, we have our first appearance from Green after a few years of absence. His appearance in this chapter is brief and he's only there to give our heroes a conflict they'll have to resolve. 2 years away from the manga and this is the grand return he receives? There's also narrative issues revolving around Green's presence in this saga.

What's Green doing in the Kalos region? Why does he have a vacation home in Kalos? Is this his actual house? Is this story supposed to take place in Kanto? The manga won't answer any of that because why waste time trying to tell exciting, yet, hilarious stories when you can go skiing on a blackboard?

This isn't to say the chapter isn't entirely awful. For one, unlike its embarrassing predecessor, "Stay In School!" does away with the onslaught of exaggerated faces and uses them sparingly. This allows for some actual comedy that manages to get a chuckle out of me every few pages. It felt kind of nice to read a chapter of Pokémon Pocket Monsters XY that was genuinely pleasant to look at. If only this visual improvement was paired with a more engaging plot.

"Stay In School!" wasn't as bad as "New Pokémon Friends Appear!". But for the small improvements it presents, it is still riddled with plotholes, little to no attempts at gauging the interest of readers, and missed storytelling opportunities in what's supposed to be the latest saga of Pokémon Pocket Monsters. If the jokes aren't enough for you, this is one chapter you're not missing out on if you plan on skipping it.

I want to enjoy this series. I really do. But from what I've read so far, I'm still not impressed. No new Pokémon, no antagonists, not even a single Pokémon battle. It looks less like Red is on a journey to become the best or to expand his Pokémon collection and more like he's mucking around the country doing who knows what.

If Anakubo wanted to write an episodic comedy manga, I'd be perfectly fine with that. But this is Pokémon Pocket Monsters. A long-running manga that showcases a character on a journey with a specific goal in mind for him. When that part of the manga is tossed aside, it just becomes a shell of its former self and makes it difficult for a lot of long-time fans like myself to continue reading.

Maybe the manga will improve in a later chapter. (A MUCH later chapter.) But until I get to that specific chapter, the bar has been set incredibly low for me. And I only fear it'll get even lower as I keep reading.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTES

In what could be described as the most weirdest thing to happen in Pokémon Pocket Monsters, Pikachu actually speaks.

This is something that'll be kept as the manga continues. Pokémon like Pikachu won't be able to talk to other humans, but their words will still be shown. When translating this chapter, I wanted to make it a bit like Garfield. But after italicizing the text, it became a bit difficult to read. It wasn't until I read a few strips from a webcomic I used to enjoy called Random Doom that I wrote the Pokémon's sentences in parentheses. (It also matched with the original Japanese text.)

While this was an interesting change, it only makes my job more difficult than it needs to be.

[kohakhearts]

when people first meet me and inquire about my studies im generally hit with two different responses, being 1) “wow, that’s an unusual combination”/“you don’t see that often”/etc. and 2) “you must be SO smart!” (or its evil twin, “you must hate yourself ha-ha”), and while the first is obviously a better response than the second, both are kinda…awkward to react to.

like? IS it an unusual combination of interests, or is it actually that most institutions make it exceptionally difficult for people to pursue stem and arts concurrently? and that we don’t often talk about the heavy crossover between stem and the arts because we’re so culturally obsessed with this notion that the world is split into Art People and Science People (also known as English People and Math People)?

and how would my interest in a science make me any smarter than someone in my program who chose to pursue a minor in history instead of physics? also, NO, i don’t hate myself. obviously taking stem classes after spending years believing im “not a math person” has lowered my gpa, but that’s not really something i care about, because at the end of the day i find the subject endlessly fascinating and i enjoy my classes very much, and i get better at math every semester because i have no choice. because it’s just…a method of communication. it’s a language. you practice, you improve - but you have to be consistent and intentional about it. the same way you have to be consistent and intentional about analyzing fictional texts and historical documents.

which is to say that like. you are using the same skills. i tutored a high school student last year who looked at me like i was crazy for saying that close reading a short story is functionally the same as solving an algebra problem. you collect like terms. then you compare and contrast them to make a statement about them - it’s human nature to seek refuge in what is familiar even if it is simultaneously traumatic, or x = 2 and y = -2. you can chart it, you can graph it, you can draw it. listen, isn’t there something so inherently beautiful about the word integral? it’s something intrinsic, baked into a person or a thing - the fundamental values formed within you by tiny, infinitesimal pieces: moments, experiences - they coalesce into something completely different, but still. you can go back. you can find the pieces. define them, pick them apart, put them together again in new ways. expand them, contract them, equate them to something else just to understand them.

half the study of mathematics is called analysis, for god’s sake. what is the study of art if not analysis? is it not the goal of the artist, the writer, to make sense of our place in the world? and is this not what we do in physics, too? look at the world and try to find reason in it? as the poet spends their life trying to make the intangible tangible, the particle physicist attempts to study dark matter. when we form a sentence, we utilize a complex system of equations that are so second-nature to us we don’t even register that’s what we’re doing - but there’s a reason this branch of linguistics is called syntactic calculus.

like…believe me. if you told my teenage self i’d be taking calculus-based courses in university, i wouldn’t have believed it. i teach high school students now who tell me they know they aren’t good at english, but it doesn’t matter to them because they do so well in math. and i get it. i do. but it’s disappointing, too, because i think my knowledge of math has made me a better reader and writer. and it feels like most people are missing out on that connection, because they feel like it’s impossible to make. but any experimentalist can tell you there’s an art to the scientific process. any musician or poet can tell you that great art is dictated by numbers - rhythm, rhyme and metre, all of it. the only group of people as interested in conceptual symmetry as physicists are artists.

anyway, all i’m saying is like - one is not more essential than the other, these things are inextricably linked, these things are as fundamental to human existence as breathing. there’s a reason why astronomers defer to shakespeare to name newly discovered bodies in space, you know? we've all gotta learn to love the math in our art and the artistry behind math.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Sami Edge

Published: Oct 19, 2023

Oregon high school students won’t have to prove basic mastery of reading, writing or math to graduate from high school until at least 2029, the state Board of Education decided unanimously on Thursday, extending the pause on the controversial graduation requirement that began in 2020.

The vote went against the desires of dozens of Oregonians who submitted public comments insisting the standards should be reinstated, including former Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan. Backlash against the lowered standard had already delayed the vote, originally slated to take place in September.

Opponents argued that pausing the requirement devalues an Oregon diploma. Giving students with low academic skills extra instruction in writing and math, which most high schools did in response to the graduation rules, helped them, they have argued.

But leaders at the Oregon Department of Education and members of the state school board said requiring all students to pass one of several standardized tests or create an in-depth assignment their teacher judged as meeting state standards was a harmful hurdle for historically marginalized students, a misuse of state tests and did not translate to meaningful improvements in students’ post high school success.

Higher rates of students of color, students learning English as a second language and students with disabilities ended up having to take intensive senior-year writing and math classes to prove they deserved a diploma. That denied those students the opportunity to take an elective, despite the lack of evidence the extra academic work helped them in the workplace or at college, they said.

Board members underscored that state-mandated standardized tests will still be administered to most Oregon high school students – they just won’t be used to determine whether a student has the skills necessary to graduate.

“We haven’t suspended any sort of assessments,” state board member Vicky López Sánchez, a dean at Portland Community College, said during Thursday’s meeting. “The only thing we are suspending is the inappropriate use of how those assessments were being used. I think that really is in the best interest of Oregon students.”

Oregon lawmakers, however, have mandated that families be told each year that they can opt their student out of taking state tests – and one third of high school juniors didn’t take the tests last spring, meaning they and their families don’t necessarily know how they measure up against statewide academic standards.

Proving mastery of reading, writing and math on one of many standardized tests or a teacher-judged in-depth assignment was one of several Oregon graduation requirements. Students also have to earn a prescribed number of credits and complete an education plan that maps out how they can achieve post high-school goals.

During the pandemic, Gov. Kate Brown signed a bill freezing the proficiency requirement, as standardized tests weren’t happening amid school closures. Lawmakers decided to order a more comprehensive review of graduation requirements.

After broad outreach to families, educators, students and employers, with a particular focus on people of color, the Oregon Department of Education recommended new graduation recommendations about a year ago. One of those was to scrap the requirement to show mastery of reading, writing and math. State lawmakers have not acted on that recommendation, and the department in the meantime asked the state board to continue its pause through at least the 2027-28 school year.

Speaking of the academic mastery requirements, Dan Farley, assistant superintendent of research and data for the department, told the state board Thursday, “They did not work. What they were designed to do is protect student interests. We have no evidence that they did that.”

Farley pointed to a 2021 analysis by Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission that found no clear evidence that implementing the proficiency standards improved the performance of Oregon high school graduates during their first year of community college or university classes. The report did not study all possible postsecondary outcomes, Farley told the commission, and the state could do further research on that point.

The report also notes that it’s possible that the level of skill required to meet Oregon’s since-paused academic mastery standards was “too low to improve college and university outcomes.” It’s also possible, the report said, that student success in college relies more heavily on other factors than writing or math skill levels.

Suspending the requirement at least until the class of 2029 gives the state more time to do community outreach about how best to overhaul the grad standards, Farley said, and gives future high school students plenty of time to prepare if this standard does resume.

Hundreds of people submitted written comments to board members about the requirement for students to demonstrate academic mastery, the vast majority in favor of keeping it. Many of those critical emails used the same stock language.

Drazan, a former member of the Legislature, wrote that she had opposed the 2021 bill that suspended the requirement in the first place. Oregon doesn’t need to decrease standards, she wrote, but create and act on a concrete plan to increase students’ academic achievement.

“The board failed to discuss their responsibility for lagging academic achievement in our state. Instead they cast the blame on a tool used to measure a student’s ability to read, write and do math,” Drazan said in a news release sent after the vote. “It’s disappointing that these unelected bureaucrats decided to ignore public comment and continue down a path that neglects their responsibility to help students meet high standards.”

Whitney Grubbs, executive director for Foundations for a Better Oregon, a coalition of Oregon-based nonprofits that advocates for educational equity among other school reforms, wrote in public testimony that pausing or ending graduation requirements without proposing more effective and equitable alternatives “risks leading Oregonians to believe that our state is lowering expectations to artificially mask disparities” and reinforces false and prejudiced ideas that students’ demographics dictate their academic success.

“As Oregonians, we hold high expectations for students because we believe in the boundless potential of children,” Grubbs’ testimony said. “...We urge state leaders to articulate a plan for holding Oregon’s education system accountable for demonstrating whether and how it is supporting all students to meet graduation requirements.”

--

See Free Black Thought's earlier post from 2022:

==

This is what the bigotry of low expectations looks like.

[chenxhen]

Being Above Average but of Average Social Standing

The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The Tao-Path is not the All-Tao. The Name is not the Thing named. - Laozi, Tao Te Ching

I know I'm intelligent. I've never done an IQ test, because I believe it's just another unnecessary box people are placed into. But, growing up, I've been told by teachers and other intelligent people that I'm intelligent. I've always thought school was too easy, and was recommended into gifted programs. Everything from Math to English, I was either top of the class or close to the top. And I know I'm intelligent as well. I see it in the way I think and convey my thoughts. 

Apart from academic excellence, I also have many talents. My parents were very adamant on making me a "cultured" individual. I was placed into various extracurricular classes ever since I was four or five years old. Dance, visual arts, and vocal lessons were the ones I enjoyed the most, and also the ones that came most naturally to me. I also love to read and write prose and poetry. I grew up performing, and honing these skills. I'm very self-critical (another quality of intelligence), so I would always try to improve. I believe in the capacity of any human being to be able to do what any other human being can do. Of course, there are certain limitations resulting from our genes, but we're still all human beings. If one tries hard enough, the limits are boundless. 

I'm also quite good-looking. I've received many compliments, and I'm very confident in my appearance. I also dress well, work out, and take care of myself to maintain my appearance. 

And to add on top of all of this, I'm not a boring prude either. I know how to have fun. I'm quite witty, and I love to be silly. 

Now, I'm not saying all of this to boast. I'm not perfect, and I'm certainly not the best at everything. I can't play an instrument, sometimes it takes me a while to feel the beat of a song, I don't speak the most eloquently, and I certainly don't have model-like good looks. I'm aware of this. I see when other people are better in these ways. I always compliment people where they deserve to be. I was raised to be modest, humble, and to see the good in others. I'm just very well-rounded, and as a whole above average. 

Why does this matter, and why am I speaking on all of this? Well, despite excelling in many ways, I come from a very humble family, finances wise. As a result, my opportunities in life were always limited. Another crutch to this reality is that I'm a first generation immigrant. My parents and I came to Canada in 2007, after I had just completed first grade in China. We came here with very little money, and my parents had to restart their lives. They worked lower middle class or working class jobs to make ends meet. Our connections were limited to people in these sectors of society as well. The focus was always on making more money and climbing up the social ladder. This is why going to a good university, getting a good degree, a good job, and making a lot of money is so important to us. However, it created many problems for my up-bringing. 

My family was dysfunctional, the pressure was on me to dig us out of a hole I wasn't a part of digging, and I had very few friends. I had nothing material to show for my excellence. I'm also a female, with quite the baby face. People like to judge. Humans are superficial. And we create expectations of others in our minds out of these incorrect prejudices. When people first look at me, they more often than not think I'll be a weak, demure, and simple girl. They won't expect me to have all the abilities I hold. Whenever there's a disconnect between a person's expectations and realities, discomfort arises. It triggers a fight or flight response, because there's a sense of unfamiliarity and fear. The disconnect I cause in people's minds is probably quite great. People either love me or hate me because of it. All of this meant I had very little support from the people I most wanted support from - my family and my peers. I was intimidating to most people my age, and my family had very little time or money to spare me. 

As a result, I've always felt pressured to prove myself. There has always been such a great weight on my shoulders to do anything that would show people just how great I am, and what I can achieve beyond people's expectations of me. Eventually, I became drained. It's not easy when I'm able to see past what's in front of me and onto the bigger picture. I'm constantly helping others, when I lack the most support. I won't lie, some of this I did create for myself, because people just don't stimulate my brain enough, or aren't able to match up to me, and I don't feel comfortable asking those I consider "weaker" than me for help. 

At the age of 18, I began losing my mind to it all. I had very little friends - if any I considered close, I wasn't doing what I wanted, and I became depressed. I had just gotten into university, but it quickly dawned on me that this wasn't what I wanted at all. I was doing all of this in search of something that was in actuality meaningless to me. I don't care about money or status. All I want is to live a simple life, and let the days pass me by stress-free. I transferred out of several university programs, dropped out completely, and went to college instead. It made me feel incredibly insecure. Now I had absolutely nothing to show for who I am on the inside. I was back at square one. It felt like my life was starting over. This feeling only brought me down more. I felt like a failure, and I began to lose my way. 

Today, I'm settling back into who I am. I don't have to prove anything to anyone. The future seems incredibly uncertain, but there's one thing I'm incredibly certain of -  who I am and my value. I'm incredibly valuable. It sucks that most people just won't ever see that. But, I have accepted it for what it is. Society is made for the average person, and those who are on par with me will see me for all that I am. I just have to continue to be my best self, and hope for a future where I'm not taken for granted. Results are what matter, not the journey. 

If you are average, I'm telling you to be grateful for being average. It's the luckiest thing a person can be in this society. However, I won't ever dumb myself down to fit in. The results will be shown in my satisfaction with life, and self-actualization (a little Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs reference to end this off). 

Best to everyone. 

Love, Chenchen ♡

[marischimmer]

Vignar - Chapter 1 - Part 6

Well, a roommate shouldn’t distract her from her routine. She was a long gone subject, after all. Yes, a long gone subject. Not a long gone friend. A. Subject.

Math homework wouldn’t be done by itself, would it. Time to get that done.

It would be easier if she actually understood what she was doing. What was the point in knowing what a parabola is? That wouldn’t help her in real life, would it? It’d be much better if they learnt how to cook something else than noodles and rice, or how to sew, for example. If you want to keep it math-ish, even Home Economics would be better. But the ones who decide what to learn are never the ones in the classrooms, are they.

– Why, hallo dere, Empson. Or should I say princess – greeted someone, loud enough to make her hear him despite the headphones. She decided to ignore him, since no one was allowed to speak to her in that tone – Hey. Dun ignore me, ya piece of shit – the guy said, grabbing her by her hood. Stupid jacket.

– Oh, I’m sorry, were you talking to me? – she asked, as sarcastic as possible, her golden eyes shining in disgust just by seeing him and his lame goons – Is there nothing better for you to do, Selman? I bet your Math homework remains untouched still –

– So what? You ain’t done it eider, didja? –

– And what if I haven’t yet? At least I am going to do it. What about you? Will you let your marks go even lower? –

– ‘S dat a challenge? Are ya challenging me? Don’tja know what happens when ya challenge me? –

– Yes. I win – she said, stabbing his foot with her heels.  Before he realised, she was free from his grip, and was gone by the second. His gorillas were so lame they wouldn’t even try to catch her, being so worried about their “boss”.

Some narrow alleys later, she was back at the school campus. Now she was safe. They wouldn’t dare hit her at school, they had been too many times at Detention already; they would be suspended, at the very least. She should still be more aware of her surroundings. This time it was those idiots, but the next time it could be a robber or a kidnapper.

Jeez. How annoying they were.

She tried to focus on that awful Math homework. Now she had to get a better mark than him. Of course she would, but extra effort wouldn’t kill her. If only she understood the exercise completely… But Mrs. Emily didn’t quite understand the questions they made, and always answered anything else but what they wanted to know. That happened as a homeroom teacher, too, so that’s why they weren’t too happy when they were told she’d be theirs. But, anyways, she was better than many others, and better than nothing at all, so she was accepted.

Math homework. Not Math teacher. Focus.

Actually, now that she thought about it, many teachers had that same problem…

Focus.

What if Shaiel was good at Math? She should check the timetable Kendra gave her; if she was in the same or even a higher level, she could ask her for help, maybe. Just for Math. It wouldn’t harm her, would it?

With that idea in mind, she hurried back to her room, decided to do her best before she arrived. Just to show her how good she was.

– She didn’t recognize me –

Having called Damon in a hurry, she was lying in Shaiel’s bed to avoid messing up all the plushies and cushions neatly covering her own, hiding her head behind a pillow. Who cared if she messed up her roommate’s side instead.

– Pfft- What? –

– She didn’t recognize me. She doesn’t know who I am. She seemed confused, as if she had some déjà vu or something, but she didn’t recognize me – she said, throwing the pillow against him when he started laughing.

Wonderful. Now she wouldn’t hear the end of it.

– Are you done yet? –

– I told you! I told you she ain’t recognizing you! You’ve grown up, you silly, you changed! I bet she changed too –

– ...She is much taller than me now. Were it not for my heels, the difference would be huge. Her English is still as bad as it was though – she said, but there was pride in her voice. It did improve. She just wouldn’t admit it.

– So? Where’s she? –

– I… may or may not have spoken harshly and told her to disappear from my sight –

– OH. MY. GOD! Lisette! – he started laughing again, making her blush. Well, yes, she probably shouldn’t have done that, but there was no reason to tease her like that! – Unbelievable. I ain’t believe you are so- The girl’s new here! Ain’t you wanted to make a nice first impression?? You really are dumb! –

– We all know I’m dumb, Damon, that’s no news –

– No. Wait. I ain’t meant it. No, you ain’t dumb. Damnit –

– Language, D. Do not worry, it is common knowledge by now. Anyways, did you get any more information? – she asked, trying to change the subject. It was no news, really. Everyone said so because it was true.

– I… no, not really. They told her to ask us questions instead, since she got so… well, shy about herself –

– Yes, I noticed. When she saw me she seemed… scared or something. It was… unusual. People tend to hate me, not fear me –

– Guess you’ll have fun with her around –

– Perhaps.., – she said, not paying much attention anymore – Say, what do you want for your birthday? –

– …Ain’t you a tad too early? –

– Come on, you know I like having everything ready beforehand. And it’s less than a month away –

– Fine, fine… What about a new helmet? For my bike, you know. The old one is, well, old. I got tired of it already –

– ...You are worse than me. But, very well! It is decided, then. Expect a new helmet, better than the previous one! By the way, where is your bike? You didn’t have it with you this morning, did you? –

– Nah, it’s in the repair shop. Somethin’s wrong with the breaks; it ain’t letting me stop when I want to –

– …Are you sure you don’t want me to buy you a new one? –

– Hell no! Dad bought it for me, ya know it. I ain’t changin’ it for anythin’. It ain’t matter if it’s second hand or anythin’, it’s mine. I’m keepin’ it until it ain’t fixable no more – he got really worked up. He quickly realised he was on the verge of getting angry at her for no reason and stood up to leave before he made any mistakes – …Welp. I’m off to get snacks. Want some? –

– Heck no, I’m still full from lunch. How do you even manage to keep all that food in your stomach? –

– Genetics, sweetie. Genetics –

– I hate you – she joked, making him chuckle. Good, he wasn’t in that much of a foul mood anymore – Oh, yes, by the way. Kendra is expecting you to make her meet Shaiel. Actually, to try to make them be friends. Don’t disrespect her prediction, now, could you? –

[igcse-school]

What are the Benefits of Cambridge IGCSE?

The Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is a popular international qualification that is recognized by universities and employers around the world. There are many benefits to taking the IGCSE, including:

Rigorous and challenging curriculum: The IGCSE curriculum is rigorous and challenging, which prepares students for further study and for the world of work.

Internationally recognized: The IGCSE is an internationally recognized qualification, which means that it is accepted by universities and employers around the world.

Flexible and adaptable: The IGCSE curriculum is flexible and adaptable, which allows students to choose the subjects that are most relevant to their interests and goals.

Excellent preparation for A Levels: The IGCSE is an excellent preparation for A Levels, which are the next step in the UK's education system.

Wide range of subjects: The IGCSE offers a wide range of subjects, which allows students to explore their interests and develop their skills.

High-quality teaching: Schools that offer the IGCSE are required to meet high standards of teaching and learning.

Cambridge Lower Secondary Curriculum

The Cambridge Lower Secondary Curriculum (CSLC) is a two-year program that is designed to prepare students for the IGCSE. The CSLC covers a wide range of subjects, including English, math, science, social studies, and the arts. The program is challenging but also engaging, and it helps students develop the skills they need to succeed in the IGCSE and beyond.

Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme

The Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme (CLSP) is a more flexible option for students who want to take the IGCSE. The CLSP allows students to choose the subjects that are most relevant to their interests and goals. The program is also more aligned with the Indian curriculum, which makes it a good option for students who plan to continue their education in India.

The Cambridge IGCSE is a valuable qualification that can open up many opportunities for students. If you are considering taking the IGCSE, I encourage you to research the program and talk to people who have experience with it. I believe that you will find that the IGCSE is a challenging but rewarding experience that will help you reach your full potential.

Here are some additional benefits of taking the Cambridge IGCSE:

It can help you develop your critical thinking skills. The IGCSE curriculum requires students to think critically and solve problems. This is an essential skill for success in college and in the workplace.

It can help you improve your communication skills. The IGCSE exams require students to write essays and give presentations. This helps students develop their communication skills, which are essential for success in any field.

It can help you gain confidence. Taking the IGCSE is a challenging but rewarding experience. When you succeed in the IGCSE, you will gain confidence in your abilities.

If you are looking for a rigorous and challenging international qualification that can help you reach your full potential, then I encourage you to consider taking the Cambridge IGCSE.

[randomhuman45]

As a queer woman of color in STEM holy fuck I do this.

I'm my math course in university I had an oral exam where the professor gives us a problem or theorem to solve/prove that you solve real time explaining what you're doing, your thought process and if you get stuck you can ask for help but the more help you ask for the lower your grade goes.

My exam was the second to last week of classes so I was one of the last people to take it. I think out of the whole class maybe 5 had gotten an A and most of the class hadn't even been able to finish or complete their solution due to difficulty.

So I take it and I legit do this the entire time until I fumbled my way to my final solutions since my problem ended up having 4 parts to it. Afterwards the professor asked how I thought I did and I just explained how "I could have done this faster" and "I took a really long time to..." In which he responded with "Math isn't a race, we have time. This isn't timed, but how do you think you did?" He just kept doing that with each stupid negative thing I said until I finally actually answered the question by saying I thought I did somewhat okay with room for improvement in consciousness.

He then nodded his head and just went "Well you got an A from me, so don't worry." After I left I finally realized, I not only solved the entire problem, but I did it on my own with no additional help, the very thing we were graded on being able to do. The very thing that gave everyone else their grade.

I wasn't being graded on time or how clear or concise my solution was, the only thing I was graded on was being able to do the full problem, time and conciseness is all higher level stuff than the actual course. Even afterwards telling my friends in the class about it they were so proud and in awe at the fact that I was even able to complete the problem especially with it having so many aspects.

Blah blah blah believe yourself

blah blah blah being graded on the same scale as everyone else is crazy new sometimes coming from a p racist town then going to a progressive university

Blah blah blah inspirational shit ig idk I have my degree in Mathematics not English

So tired of women having to speak in code just to get what they need/deserve! And if you are a woman of color, it's worse.

[mydyspraxiablog]

So be hard be Adult dyspraxia with no mobie phone can't draw gift voucher won on Tesco ,Amazon and Mastercard because all asking verity code on mobile phone I mum won't improve it and just get no way mum isn't listening you not having mobile phone because of scarm and we go back to Lower dragon farm do woodwork crouse" Can't got no mobile phone not use monkey mobie phone and be no emergency number phone so can't with stafford college now with learn different team and can't go till have adult mobile phone"

I not even going use monkey phone in UK or Turkey so if miss airplane use my cruise cash get home safely to Sydnee my cat but mum isn't listening my brother Francis is always right she won't listen and not use kids mobie phone I got use Google now it part of online crouse and tesco monkey phone cost £30 too much money 💰 paid as going isn't work for me.

I want go back to Lower Drayton farm

And upper morton farm but I can't because haven't got mobie phone for emergency that what there saying.

I enjoy garden and Animal crouse but could not take photo of animals which love do but won't happen " without mobie phone can't do any farm crouse incude cooking,Math and English crouse.

I do online crouse got too many cefficate which can't print out so let photo do the talking instead.

[mollykeaneyviscom]

Oded Ezer Workshop - Day One

Exceptional Concept Exercise

choose one type of project from the options provided

develop concept proposal for the chosen type of project, using the basic steps demonstrated

think of a possible unique product that will be the outcome of such a project

here your ideas with other students to get their feedback and improve your proposal

find 1-3 related projects or references, that will help you to explain your ideas to others

I chose to work from option number one: Political / Social Response Project

During his first talk Oded explained the importance of us understanding that when we create a project we are not speaking for our tutorial and what will please them, we’re not even speaking for ourselves, we are speaking of our generation. It was this thought process with sparked my first idea. A recent upsetting political issue which faces my generation is the proposal that students who do not pass their Maths and English GCSE first time will be banned from receiving a university student loan- making it practically impossible for them to attend university.

This proposal was allegedly coined in an attempt to prevent the further growth of the number of students taking quote on quote “Mickey Mouse” courses, which are courses the government perceive to be of lower value and have lower graduate employment rates. What defines a course as a Mickey Mouse degree varies and is incredibly subjective, and while creative / design courses are not explicitly put in this category, the government and known to place little value on creative degrees; so this issue hits very close to home for our university.

I have friends and coursemates who would not have been able to attend university had this rule been in place when we were applying. Creative courses especially tend to attract neurodivergent students and those more likely to have some form of learning disability as this is a huge part of what makes us creatives. However those who are less academically inclined and also more likely to struggle in traditional examinations. Therefore this new rule could have a detrimental knock on effect to creative courses and subsequently the creative industries.

I had a few ideas for how I could talk about this issue. Following Oded’s formula what I needed was an authentic message. In relation to this issue the thing that stood out to me the most was the idea that the entire trajectory and possibilities of your future are determined by how you preform in a very traditional examination, of a subject which may not even be relevant to your future career, on some random hot May / June day, when you’re 16 years old.

This seems ridiculous to me. GCSE examination are a very one size fits all approach to measuring success in education, and fail to take into account the different ways people learn and our diverse range of skill and talents. This proposal essential essentially tells students that they will not be successful and are not worthy of higher education if they do not fit in the governments very specific mould of academic value. This also fails to consider the external factors that may effect how a student performs in their GCSE examinations. A perfectly fine student could be experiencing the loss of a family member, struggling through parents getting divorced, suffering with mental health issues as a result of pressure and all of these factors could impact how they do in their exams. Everyone has bad days where they struggle, especially under extreme stress, therefore it’s unfair that one day of your life should impact all your future options so heavily, especially at such a young age.

If you ask adults, graduates, or even current university students the majority will say the same thing- that GCSE results do not matter, and you will never be asked about them when going into the workplace especially once you’ve been through further and higher education. A lot of us don’t even remember all of our GCSE results just because they have such little relevance to our adult lives. Therefore it feels bizarre to put so much weight on these exams for students now. Giving GCSE results the power to determine so much means they will now be inescapable, branded on students like their cattle, following them and continuously impacting their future opportunities.

References:

I looked for references where people had created projects based on learning disabilities, neurodivergance, education and the governments impact on the education system. Most projects I found in relation to learning disabilities show the positives by highlighting famous people who have said disabilities such as the dyslexic sperm bank. This tends to always be the approach when discussing dyslexia and related disabilities, giving them an odd sort of celebrity endorsement- I can’t even tell you the number of times I was told Einstein had dyslexia after being diagnosed myself. Therefore I want to take a different approach with my messaging.

When crafting a proposal for the project Oded asks us for the area / field of design in which we specialise the most- for me I would probably consider this animation and motion design. This means my outcome would most likely need to be some form of video.

The directions I thought I could potentially take this is either:

showing the butterfly effect of how someone’s life would be effected had this rule be in place earlier, showing a narrative of how different things would be.

highlighting how ridiculous and unfair it is that a students entire future should be determined by their performance in one exam on one random hot May day when they’re 15/16 years old.

Either direction I envision a somewhat emotive short film for these ideas, which is something a bit different for me and sounds quite exciting.

I didn’t end up getting the chance to present this idea to Oded and the class as we ran out of time, however I’m still really happy with the idea and the process of this exercise was really helpful and enlightening.

[dcg--defence--academy]

Procedure for NDA Exams and Exam-Cracking Tips

Candidates intending to apply for the Army, Navy, and Air Force services must take the NDA tests, which are given by the UPSC. This is the test for joining the Army, Navy, Air Force, and other branches of the armed forces. This national exam is given twice a year. The NDA I and NDA II are tools that candidates can use to start a career in the defence force. The National Defense Academy & Naval Academy (NDA & NA) examination process consists of two phases, the second of which is a personality assessment or interview with the Service Selection Board (SSB). Crack NDA in 1st attempt with NDA Coaching in Chandigarh.

The majority of students research basic NDA breaking methods. The following information is an A1 list of essentials for a successful in NDA on your first try:

NDA Written Exam

Read the curriculum first. In Paper 1, the UPSC NDA written test includes a section on mathematics. Paper II: English and General Knowledge.

Recognize the scoring criteria and bear in mind that each incorrect answer lowers your score by one-third.

Before focusing on your areas of strength, work on your areas of weakness.

Put simplicity before cramming concepts in.

Time management is important.

For the areas that require greater concentration, make a schedule.

Prepare on a regular basis.

Regularly review the workbooks and exams from the prior year.

In mathematics, one gramme of effort can go a very long way. Make a list of important formulas and obtain quick keys in order to properly prepare for math.

Please read a lot of English-language books, especially those with academic content, the news, & reading comprehension.

Antonyms, proverbs, and other wise remarks.

For general awareness, just a developing body of knowledge on defence, world politics, and current events is required.

NDA SSB INTERVIEW

After the written test, you will have to take part in a five-day SSB interview.

For the written, oral, & physical rounds of the SSB, try to be as prepared as you can.

Get your personality ready since the SSB is where the real racing begins and winning demands an impressive personality.

Increase your extroversion and improve your communication skills.

Improve your leadership skills. After all, one of the responsibilities of an officer is to command thousands of people.

Keep up with all news, current affairs, and defense-related issues.

Get over your hesitancy and work confidently.

Below are some further NDA recommendations:

Enjoy a healthy diet because eating well can help you stay fit.

Regular exercise is necessary to maintain good health, especially running.

Give your sleep some respect.

Create a smart timetable. Start out with a short study period, then gradually extend it.

Be dependable when making plans.

Gain more self-assurance, challenge your mind, and widen your worldview.

You must take a recognised training course in addition to reading sample test questions and preparing for tests. Most top colleges employ former military personnel with a high level of training, education, and experience who give their pupils a higher education. There are many NDA coaching in Chandigarh and around the country, but it is important to choose only those that have a strong reputation because these establishments manage their own training programs. There are many NDA coaching institutes in Chandigarh and around the country, but it is important to choose only those that have a strong reputation because these establishments manage their own training programs.

Delhi Careers Group, which provides the best NDA coaching in Chandigarh and all cities, is the top company recognized for providing both offline and online coaching in Chandigarh, Delhi. Building pupils' abilities and confidence will help them prepare for tests. a committed, purpose-driven physical conditioning center managed by former defence officials on the training grounds. Using state-of-the-art teaching methods, instructors coach students on both basic and technical skills as well as challenging subjects. hours of academic support Regular defence seminars are provided for students who are considering joining the Indian Defense Service. Use the section & chapter exercises to learn and put into practice a few hard tasks.

[mariacallous]

Summary: Reeves largely creates solutions that would have helped his own life (holding his son back a year and making caretaking the primary source of purpose for men). He presents one-sided evidence, often failing to engage with research critical of his solutions (which are covered below). He also largely ignores (or at least mutes the findings of) DiPrete, who has done a large share of the high quality studies on boys educational deficits over the last 20 years. I believe this is because DiPrete argues for norms targeting pursuit of excellence in academics. Reeves' makes everything caregiving-centric in a way that feels contradictory to DiPrete.

Education: He also completely fails to address where boys deficits actually come from. High quality studies suggest it comes from four sources: lower effortful control (ie self-discipline), lower reading ability, lower writing ability, norms that don't support scholastic achievement. Ideally, a solution would both align children's interests and desires with good academic outcomes (eliminating the effortful control gap, about 40% of the deficit), and create a system in which grades are not writing-centric (things like making debate and effective speaking key parts of English could help here). We would also create norms for boys that help spur academic achievement.

To date, little work has been done on the above. However, the are four key areas that impact boys that can be improved: high levels of cooperative learning can likely reduce deficits in math (almost all of it disappeared); this is easy to implement. Boost school quality: high quality schools eliminate 50-70% of the gap, by my estimation, compared to low quality schools. Consider apprenticeship-degree programs similar to what Germany, Austria and Switzerland use; these countries have no gender deficit in degree attainment. Institute norms for academic achievement among boys--this has to happen after we have a system which works for boys, but is no less important than the other 3.

Statements on how nature affects gender differences Research here is conflicting. He presents it as a closed case for a heavy nature effect. Yes, differences in interests are larger in more equal countries, but we don't know if this is because they started with even larger gaps or whether they grew due to equality (he presumes the latter). What little (admittedly poor-quality) evidence exists, suggests the change in equality doesn't matter to gender gaps. Personally, I agree with his assertions, but they are assertions and shouldn't be presented as fact.

Entering the HEAL fields I agree with his goal here, I don't agree with his methods. He claims that programs to get women into STEM have been seriously successful. I would disagree. After spending what I would estimate is well over $1B in today's dollars, women still only account for 25% of STEM jobs (roughly) and their interest in people vs things has not changed at all in a century (per a massive 2009 study/review). Its hard to raise money for men's issues. Maybe we should try something a little more cost-effective?

Roles for men I agree with his model of female early vs male late caregiving split--this is well supported by what research exists and is grounded in neurological and hormonal-behavioral interaction research, not sociological or psychology evidence (which, IMO, is a good thing). I also agree on his focus on equality.

However, the desire to center the entire male role around caregiving appears to be more emotional than anything. The science is fairly clear that personal growth and purpose are basic human needs (see Deci and Ryan and Ryff's work, respectively). Per surveys, people attach lots of meaning to both work and family and study after study suggests people want to do both. Using "mild social coercion" to enforce men's central role as caregivers deprives a large number of men of the right to find, form and follow their own dreams. It harms men for the same reasons it harmed women. All people must be given the right to center their lives around both. Given the the restrictions it places on boys and men, I believe this is not only extremely harmful, but makes Reeves' overall construct unsupportable.

One of the only critical reviews (on Amazon) of The New Book About Masculinity Everyone Is Now Talking About

[skamenglishsubs]

Subtext and Culture, Young Royals, Season 1, Episode 2

Episode 2 picks up the morning day after the initiation party, the girls are having breakfast lunch at their dorm, the boys at theirs, and everyone wants the juicy details about what happened at the party...

Culture: Tell me more, tell me more, did you get very far? Although, it's pretty funny how the roles are reversed, Maddie is all "meh" about it, while Nils tells a different story. Then again, since when do you get together after a blowjob?

Culture: I actually have no idea why Simon is having breakfast at Skogsbacken, since regular schools only cover lunch for students, everyone eats breakfast at home, and then goes to school. Then again, it allows a scene where (Never mind, they're having lunch, thanks @kamand !) Blink and you miss it: Wilhelm casts some nervous glances at Simon after having been called out for disappearing at the party and almost forced to confess to making out with someone.

Culture: I know Felice is trying to put August down, but don't knock a proper Swedish pizza! As much as I like living in the US, they can't fucking make pizzas here, and the first thing I eat every time I go back to Sweden is always a real pizza. With pineapple and shrimp as God intended pizza to be made!

Culture: August is namedropping ski resorts in the Alps, which is where you go skiing in Europe if you have money, although Saint-Martin-de-Belleville is actually near Val Thorens in France, while Verbier is in Switzerland. It does have a three-star restaurant, though. Sweden and Norway have a couple of decent ski resorts, but the Scandinavian mountain chain is simply not as impressive as the Alps.

Subtext: Remember Wilhelm getting up and hurrying to math class in the beginning of the scene? It was so he could grab the other seat next to Simon, because he knows Simon is gonna sit next to Sara, since no-one else does.

Culture: Formally greeting your teacher before class is very uncommon in Sweden, but since Hillerska is all about discipline and tradition, of course they do it. Note that they're again using the formal Swedish title for male teachers, Magister, which in a regular school would be kind of a joke, since teachers and students are on a first-name basis with each other.

Subtext: Wilhelm is exposing how the world works if you have money. At Simon's old school, studying alone would result in good grades, but Hillerska is slightly corrupt and almost expects the students to essentially pay for getting a good grade.

Subtext: Simon is lying to his teacher, he absolutely hasn't talked to his parents about paying for private lessons.

Subtext: No, Sara absolutely does care about what other people think about her, and when she directly tells Felice that she would actually like some friends, that's when Felice gets it and starts making an effort to become real friends with her.

Culture: They're all bilingual at Simon's home, they're all speaking Spanish and Swedish, although Linda has a very noticeable accent to her Swedish. Based on demographics and statistics, the most likely scenario is that Linda immigrated to Sweden from Chile, met Micke, and started a family. In real life, Omar Rudberg was born in Venezuela and grew up in Sweden, while Carmen Gloria Pérez was born in New York, and grew up in Puerto Rico.

Subtext: Remember how I talked in the intro post about how distant social classes know nothing of each other? Ayub and Rosh are either working class or lower middle class like Simon, and since rowing is a typical upper class sport, they know nothing of it, they don't even think of it as a real sport. Unlike football, which is a proper working class sport, they know all about that!

Subtext: Scandinavia has Jantelagen, and everyone there thinks it's uniquely Scandinavian, but all countries have some form of Tall Poppy Syndrome. In this scene, Simon is starting to make a class journey, he started rowing, he started trying to fit in with the other upper-class kids, and getting into a relationship with someone as upper-class as Wilhelm would definitely move him all the way. But going on a journey means leaving things behind, which is why Rosh and Ayub are cutting him down and literally turning their backs on him. They like it in the small town of Bjärstad, why can't he be happy there too? Why is he betraying his roots?

Subtext: This comment from August nicely foreshadows a later episode when August does something traceable on a School computer...

Subtext: What August means is that he's not sure Wilhelm has the same desire to be accultured into the upper class, to play the part of a proper prince, in the same way that he and Erik have accepted their roles and are even enjoying them.

Culture: Although it's impossible to read the name of the medicine, the paper tag on the bottle indicates that it's some kind of prescription medicine. From the conversation with Vincent, we learn that it's some kind of ADHD medication, probably some kind of Dextroamphetamine since those improve athletic ability and cognitive functions in healthy people.

Culture: Birkenstock sandals are associated with hippies in Sweden as well as in many parts of the world, so August is actually saying that the school counselor isn't really part of the same upper-class society as the rest of the staff. And again, his use of the word sosse drives the point home.

Subtext: Consequently, the counselor sees right through August and refuses to immediately prescribe him the medication that he wants...

Subtext: ...even though August tries to both bribe him and threaten him into giving him the medication he wants.

Subtext: A big theme of this episode is class journeys, and in this scene and a previous exercise scene, August gushes about how good a thing that is, how proud he is of Simon for going on one, and spouts some crap about how everyone can make it if they really want to.

Subtext: Thankfully, Madison says what we're all thinking: August is full of shit, life isn't fair, and they're only at the school because they were born into privilege.

Blink and you miss it: After Wilhelm has nervously texted his crush for the first time, he starts to bite his fingernails, but quickly stops himself, because why would he be nervous? He's just texting another boy about rowing practice, there's nothing more to it!

Subtext: Simon's texting game is on point though, he knows exactly what he should write to get Wilhelm to go on a totally-not-a-date with him.

Subtext: In the same way that August couldn't convince the counselor about being sick, I don't think Wilhelm's atrocious acting here convinces August that he's sick either.

Culture: Public transport in the greater Stockholm area - or wherever we're supposed to be - is of course cash-less, and you pay by either charging a special card, or by signing up in their app and buying tickets through there. The point of this scene though is to drive home how Wilhelm has never ever had to take the bus before in his life, and therefore has no idea how it works.

Culture: The totally-not-a-date starts at a Circle K, which in Sweden is just another gas station, but it is actually a Canadian multi-national convenience store corporation. The price of gas is of course posted in kr/l, and 13.98kr/l corresponds to roughly $6/gal.

Subtext: Throughout the totally-not-a-date, Wilhelm is trying to reach for common ground with Simon, trying to show him how he's just a regular guy...

Subtext: ...but then real life intrudes, Wilhelm is recognized by some local girls, who call out to him and run away giggling, which shows how he's not a regular guy, he's going to get recognized wherever he goes.

Culture: Kokt eller grillat, boiled or grilled, are the two ways you can get your hot-dog at pretty much any hot-dog place in Sweden, and ketchup and mustard is always offered. The correct answer to this question is of course grilled, with ketchup and mustard, and this just shows that Wilhelm is a man of culture and good taste. Unfortunately, they were out grilled ones, so they all got boring soggy boiled hot-dogs instead. Is there a metaphor here? I don't know.

Subtext: Again, the show drives home the point that absolutely no-one has a problem with people being gay. Simon is clearly out to Ayub and the rest of his friends, and Ayub immediately picks up on the fact that this is totally a date.

Blink and you miss it: Ayub nudges Simon with his elbow to tell him that he should make a move on Wilhelm.

Culture: What we're looking at is just the local junior/high school football team, Bjärstad, playing a match against some other unnamed junior football team. Since the stakes are super low, the audience basically consists of whichever parents and friends of the players that could be bothered showing up.

Culture: Driving age is 18 in Sweden, and even then getting your own car at that age is extremely uncommon. However, you can easily get a license for a moped when you turn 15, so these are the vehicles of choice for teenagers to get around.

Subtext: August found out about Wilhelm's trip to town, but his main problem with it is that he wants Wilhelm to stop slumming it with lower class people, and to start hanging out with everyone at school instead, so that he can be properly accultured into the upper class. Again, sosse in this context means working class, not socialist.

Subtext: Although Simon felt really great about his first date with Wilhelm, the text message reminds him that Wilhelm isn't a regular person, and that even this innocent little trip generates interest and scrutiny, and can't be posted publicly.

Culture: As everyone should have noticed by now, Madison keeps speaking English, while everyone speaks to her in Swedish, so clearly she understands it. But here she gives her motivation for sticking to English, and that is that she doesn't feel she's good enough at speaking Swedish. Boarding schools like Hillerska attracts international students that have some kind of connection to the country, so a likely scenario is that Madison grew up in the US with a Swedish parent, and she's being sent here to experience Swedish culture and get immersed in the language to learn it better.

Cinematography: This shot of August drives really home all the pressure he is under, he's out of drugs, the headmistress just hinted that he's out of money, and he's literally being weighed down by books and work-out weights.

Subtext: Simon has kept his visits to Micke a secret from Sara, so here he has to intervene to make sure August doesn't accidentally reveal this to her. He also wants to protect his sister, so he's redirecting August's search for drugs onto himself.

Subtext: And on the flipside, Simon isn't really telling his dad that Sara still hates him and really doesn't want to see him, so he's vague when Micke asks about Sara and Linda.

Culture: Finally a bottle of medicine where we can read the label! Unfortunately for Simon, this is Tramadol, an opiate prescribed for pain relief, which is the complete opposite of the kind of drugs August wants.

Subtext: If you haven't figured out yet that this episode is about class journeys, August spells it out for us here. However, the reason he's "congratulating" Simon in front of everybody is because Simon just supplied him with more drugs, so this is his way of thanking him, since he can't really pay him.

Blink and you miss it: For a split second, Wilhelm grabs Simon's leg during the scary scene.

Subtext: The entire dialogue of the movie works as subtext for what's actually going on between Wilhelm and Simon at this point, and Wilhelm is getting a little freaked out by this sneaky display of affection.

Subtext: The movie also puts words on the implications of Wilhelm getting together with a boy, what about having kids in the future? Can you carry on your family name and traditions, or will they die with you?

Lost in translation: The plaque actually says "FEEL YOUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HERITAGE". Even though the plaque means the heritage and legacy of the school itself, Wilhelm is thinking about his legacy, his heritage, and how getting together with Simon would threaten that.

Lost in translation: Wilhelm actually says "jag är inte en..." - "I'm not a..." before he stops himself. So it's not possible that he was trying to say "I'm not gay", because that doesn't work grammatically in Swedish either. He could be trying to say "I'm not a guy like that" or "I'm not a guy who likes guys", that would work.

Cinematography: The framing and silhouetting of this shot is just chef's kiss. The outline of their hair allows us to see who is who, and we can see from their poses that Simon is welcoming a kiss, while Wilhelm is still hesitating.

[connieshusband]

Fucking hate you, love to fuck you

Hate sex

Oikawa x fem!reader

"fuck you!" "Is that a promise?"

4k

reader was the captain and ace of the girls team, reader goes to Aoba Josai, reader is also Kag's cousin

Degradation, Slight Feminization Kink, Praise Kink, Fluffy Ending, Fluff and Angst, I'm not very good at writing smut, I also got tired while writing so its short... sorry, Sir Kink: but very minor, no beta we die like men

-cross posted on my ao3:  https://archiveofourown.org/works/31932412

MINORS DNI

Summary:

You hadn't registered that you'd slapped him until he look at you holding his red cheek with his large hand.

And you certainly hadn't registered that he had his tongue down your throat not a moment later. An honest to god moan leaving your lips which he smugly ate up.

___

Degration as well as any kink should have the full consent of all parties involved every time!!

I'm not very good at e2l so be gentle 🤩

I'm such a simp lmao

Oikawa could never figure out why you hated him when you both entered your first year of high school. Having come from a different middle school than you, he figured you'd be like the rest of the people in your grade level and fall all over him.

He wanted to ask why you had such a large stick up your ass during your first group project but chickened out. He assumed you'd at least get along as you were captain of the girls volleyball team and known for your powerful spikes. The setter in him really wanted to find out your perfect toss.

But it wasn't until your 3rd year when he came to despise you too.

He'd overheard you telling your best friend that your cousin made it onto his high schools volleyball team. Being the nosey Nelly that he is, he made the mistake of asking which school your cousin attended.

"Karasuno," you said, your chest puffed out.

It clicked: the black hair, intense expression, the last name even. He could practically see his protégé in the reflection of your eyes. He mentally slapped himself for not seeing it sooner.

His eyes narrowed, matching yours as tension of your silent beat down had to be cut by Iwazumi.

_____

You set down your suitcase, giving your aunt a big hug as she greeted you in the doorway. You give Tobio a fist bump as he helps you carry your things into the spare bedroom.

Your aunt had graciously allowed you to stay with her so you could be closer to school for your final year.

"I can't believe you're dropping volleyball club just as I'm about to join," Tobio whined, setting a suitcase on a chair in the corner of the room.

"I know," you said sullenly. You hadn't wanted to, but being captain and a 3rd year just wasn't going to be practical. Not being the best student, you thought it would be a wise decision.

Having always been close your your cousin on your dad's side came with its perks, including but not limited to drama. Ever since Tobio had joined volleyball in middle school he'd talked about Oikawa, usually brushing off some of the down right nasty things he'd said. But you hadn't. You took it upon yourself to help him train harder and harder to be able to defeat his bully when he'd found out he couldn't attend Aoba Josai with you.

Being an ace had its advantages when teaching Tobio about different techniques on how to set up a spiker best. Often gossiping about the smug bastard as you worked.

Of course, there was no escaping the pretty boy at school either. When your best friend, Ryu, had started dating his best friend Iwaizumi, being the 3rd and 4th wheel at hangouts became increasingly awkward.

And even worse when she mentioned your current math grade. Damn that ginger setter. And Mr. Perfect boasting about his grades to you. Which had lead you to your current situation.

Sitting in his bedroom.

Listening to him drawl on and on with rapidly decreasing interest.

While he looked hot as fuck.

What?!

With new found annoyance you scoffed at him snapping his fingers in your face.

"earth to y/n, I know I'm ravishing, but now it's math time." He said, a smirk decorating his lips.

“I ignored you on purpose, dumbass. Don't you get that I hate you?"

"I'm not asking you to stay, besides this has nothing to do with me?? Its calculus..."

"narcissist," you mumbled under your breath.

"must be your type," he shot back, "gawking at me for the last hour."

"aren't you dating whats-her-face from English?" You retorted, feeling your face heat up.

"yeah??" he said, confused.

You mocked his confusion, ""yeah" God, then stop flirting with me."

He scoffed, an eyebrow disappearing into bangs, "you must be a narcissist if you think I'm flirting with you because wow, it almost like I can't stand the sight of you, y/n," he rolled his eyes in disgust, sitting up in his chair indignantly.

You push him back into his chair, turning on your heels, saying nothing more.

"good!! I was going to kick you out anyway!"

____

You notice his current girlfriend wasn't hanging out with him at lunch nor sitting in his lap during English. In fact. He hadn't found new arm candy by the time your next session rolled around the following week.

___

After begrudgingly agreeing to do another tutoring session and making him promise no funny business, that rule was broken when he had his sleeves rolled up of his blue silk shirt, he glasses laying forgotten on the table, fingers rubbing his tired eyes as he tried to explain a difficult problem to you.

How could Tooru Oikawa be so fucking sexy and such a fucking dick at the same time?

Asking myself this a lot while writing

"fuck you, Oikawa! I don't need your bullshit!"

"fine! Fucking go then!" Giving you a light shove towards the door.

You hadn't registered that you'd slapped him until he look at you holding his red cheek with his large hand.

And you certainly hadn't registered that he had his tongue down your throat not a moment later. An honest to god moan leaving your lips which he smugly ate up.

You shoved him against his bed, your own smugness drinking up his moan.

You pulled your tank top off as you climbed on top of him. "You have condoms?" You asked, cringing at your breathless voice.

He flipped your position, hot breath fanning your ear, "don't you want to be filled with my cum, baby?"

Rolling your eyes, you flipped the position again, "the last thing the world needs is more of you running around."

He considered it before saying with a shrug "top drawer."

Leaning over, your legs still gripping his hips, you pulled out a condom wrapper and tossed it at his face. His nose scrunching cutely.

"pull some weight, lazykawa," you said, yanking his pants and underwear to his ankles. He was already fully hard and you took great satisfaction in wordlessly teasing him.

Trying to ignore you, a blush creeping up around his ears as he hurriedly rolling the condom onto his thick length, as you remove your bra. He flips your position once more, hovering over you, a taunting smirk plastered over his lips.

"can't go 10 minutes without getting your greedy pussy fucked?"

"Can't that mouth do anything besides half-assed insults, Shittykawa?" You mocked, he raised a cheeky eye brow at you.

He lowered his face to you heat, "want to find out?" You grip his hair harshly and shove his face between your thighs.

He rips off you panties and eagerly laps around your cunt before catching himself, slowing his ministrations.

He gripped your thighs as he buried his face in your heat. Alternating between sucking in your clit and finger fucking you, never letting you get both at the same time.

You bit your tongue, doing your best to avoid begging for more - a futile endeavor.

"C'mon babygirl, I know you want it," he sing-songed

You swallowed your pride, "please Tooru."

"sorry couldn't hear you, your legs were busy clamping around my ears.

Your legs shook in frustration and pleasure as he lazily drummed his finger on your sweet spot.

He leaned overtop of you, sucking harshly in your neck as his other hand massages your ass.

"please, Tooru! Please sir!"

"oo~" he remarks, returning between your legs, 3 fingers entering you suddenly as he nibbled along your thigh, quickly returning to sucking on your clit.

You come hard and without warning.

"delicious," he remarks, sitting up and licking his fingers clean, "and so many lewd noises too."

"You have a knack for bringing out the worst in people," you attempt to sound threatening but only succeeding in boosting his ego.

"Oh no~ I hate to find out what the best would be..." He unbuttons his blue silk shirt, allowing you to drink up the full show of his abs. "Not talking so big now, eh, Kageyama?"

You scowl at him before grunting a "just fuck me already".

"don't mind if I do."

You connected your lips with his, enjoying the noises he made as his neglected cock became engulfed in your warmth.

Neither of you lasted long.

He emptied himself into the rubber with a sexy grunt lining up with your moan.

After care he collapsed on top of you, his deep breaths matching yours.

Your hands still resting on his back, feeling scratches from your nails decorating his skin.

He had pressed his forehead to yours, you looked up to meet his eyes which were flitting between the purple marks on your neck and your eyes.

He hadn't held your gaze for more than a second when the realization of what just happened hit both of you at once. Pushing your bodies apart, you shamefully picked up your clothes from the floor leaving the room quickly.

____

It had been weeks since that day. You hadn't gone back for another tutoring session, claiming to Ryu that your grades had improved.

The free time had allowed you to be a better supporter for your cousin, getting a chance to meet his teammates and his friends.

You meet Karasuno's Ryu and think to yourself how well he and your Ryu would get along

While hanging out with your cousin at the spring tournament, you were enjoying a lunch break with a vibrant ginger, his best friend Hinata and a mutual friend with spiky hair. Bokuto, you had learned, was in your year and had a ton in common with you.

Maybe you'd gotten carried away returning his flirty looks and laughing a little too hard at his jokes. He remarked often how different your personality was from your cousin. After exchanging numbers to practice volleyball sometime (him being excited to practice with another captain/ace) an unfortunately familiar voice pulled you away from your fun.

"y/n?"

"what?" You roll your eyes, at Oikawa. You knew he had been watch you and the rest of Karasuno after they had win their first game. Beside you, you can feel the 3 boys, especially Tobio fuming.

"I have a question about the math assignment."

"I'm busy."

"too bad."

Recognizing that he wasn't going to go away until you give in, you stand up, brushing the dust from your bottoms. He leads the way out of sight from your new friends.

He harshly pushes you against the wall, "what do you think you're doing princess?"

You flip your position, he winced as his back connects with the concrete wall. "You ask you the same thing, princess."

His hand instinctively wrapped around your muscular arm submissively.

"you like that don't you?" You asked.

He nervously glanced around him for on lookers. Luckily he'd chosen a pretty secluded spot

"wouldn't want your fan girls to see you being treated like the pretty white you are?" You smirked.

He nodded shyly.

You grabbed his ass, earning a submissive squeak from him.

"such a good princess, getting his flat ass groped," you smile, you see him swallow a moan as his eyes flutter shut.

You begin painfully slowly palming him through his shorts, feeling him grow under you.

"I hope you lose," you whisper sensually into his ear.

He scowls at you as you pull away completely. Leaving him hard, exposed, and blushing as you return to your new friends.

______

The cheers from Karasuno's supporters hadn't quieted down as the team packed up. Still high on adrenaline and pride for your baby cousin, you took the time to use the bathroom before the long drive home.

Rounding the corner you heard voices, recognizing one to be Oikawa and the other belonging to a deep voiced man.

Sneaking a peak your eyes go wide. He was face to face with Ushiwaka. The former not fairing well in the conversation. You didn't think a man could look for upset than the way Oikawa looked right now.

As the conversation comes to a close, you wait until Oikawa has gone out if sight to chase after him. Accidentally running into Ushiwaka.

"sorry" you mumble, attempting to move past.

"you're with karasuno, yes?" Ushiwaka asks.

Your mind didn't really register him, instead giving him a quick pat on the shoulder and a "that's great, buddy," as you run after the brunette.

Hearing an "I look forward to playing them." In the distance.

"Hey!"

He was too far ahead to really hear you, pushing past the front doors.

"HEY!" You yell, nearly at his heels. You stand in the doorway breathing hard, "TOORU!"

He turns to face you, Iwaizumi annoyed that he can't convince their captain to just get on the bus already.

You beckon him over and he skeptically approaches you.

"here to gloat?" He asks, his voice lacking the usual sharpness.

"Tobio is staying at Hinata's tonight and my aunt is out is town for the next two days," you say.

You see the cogs working as he pieces together what you're offering. His mouth forming an 'o' shape as he realizes.

You smile smugly before running back to where Karasuno's bus is parked, giving Tobio a running jump hug, which he awkwardly returned.

__

If nothing else, Oikawa was punctual. Arriving at exactly at 7:30. You hadn't done anything special, just heated up 2 frozen pizzas that your aunt had left. Watching his form as he quietly ate his 3 cheese. He hadn't said a word besides "thank you" after you'd served him. While yes, apart of you meant when you'd said that you hoped he lose but the guilt of seeing the cocky bastard looking so small on the other side of the table, nibbling on the crust. Pity maybe?

"You played really we-"

His eyes were red, his pride keeping him from crying in front of you. "I don't want to talk about it."

"You want to have sex?"

he hesitated before asking, "can we be nice?"

You nodded. Making your way to his chair, straddling his hips and cupping his face. You kissed him slow and deliberate. You don't kiss long before you start to feel his dick springing to life. You stand up pulling him, walking backwards, towards your room accidentally walking into the partially open door.

"Graceful," he commented, a hint of his salty tone under his words as he resumed kissing you.

You grinded against each other for a few moments, drinking in each others moans. You pulled away momentarily, his cheeks dusted pink, breathing heavy, his dick straining in his pants.

"You're so beautiful," you said. He blushed harder, his cock twitching in it's confines. Your fingers dip under the waistband of his pants and pull them down, licking your lips when his cock hits his stomach. You're about to press your lips to his tip when you feel pressure on your forehead.

"y-you don't have to..." he says. You cock your head to one side, your lips parted as you gaze up at him. "I-I get it you know... I don't hold it against you..."

"I want to," you say, "if you want me to."

He nods slowly, his eyes fluttering shut as he enters your warm mouth.

Out of all the sex you'd had, this moment with Tooru didn't feel like sex. It felt like making love.

After he got close, you popped your mouth off and had ridden him. His muscles still sore from his games. Your lips danced with his as his hips met yours. Both of you reaching your climax simultaneously.

Tired in the best way, you cuddle up to his bare chest, kissing his cheek, "don't think this means I like you, flatass."

"of course," he says, relaxing into your touch.

"good."

"it was the fact that my dick was down your throat that made be think that."

You punch him in the ribs, earning an 'ouch' followed by a quiet, "let me have one win today." Followed by an even quieter "sorry" from you.

You place a gentle kiss on his cheek again before returning to your snuggle position. He wraps his arms around your waist as you both drift off to sleep.

______

It's been a number of days and neither if you had spoken about it. You wanted to text him a simple 'good morning' but the image of him quietly shuffling out of your room at the crack of dawn when he thought you were still sleeping, placing a gentle kiss on your temple. You didn't want to seem too eager or somehow let on that not only were you awake but had enjoyed when he'd done it.

After the girls had lost to Fukurodani's girls in the semi finals, Ryu had insisted on dragging you out to play volleyball with her and some 'friends'. You secretly hope it's the other girls from your team. You find yourself not disappointed that it's Iwaizumi and Oikawa.

"Warm up 'Yama!" Oikawa yells at you, serving the ball in your direction as you and Ryu approach.

Caught off guard for a moment, you return the ball back at him, hitting his face lightly with an oof.

Of course, Ryu wanted to set for her boyfriend, leaving you with Oikawa.

You made a pretty good team, he picked up your style quickly, the ball exactly where you wanted it without having to tell him anything. Not to mention that Oikawa had racked up a third of the points on service aces alone, Iwaizumi finally adjusting to being on the receiving end on them. He and Ryu had made a magnificent comeback, clearly having practiced with each other before. You were lucky if you could get a piece of one of Iwa's spikes, Tooru faired better but they quickly took the lead. You grab Oikawa's arm, causing him to look at you curiously.

"set it to me, but I'll set it back. You spike it," you said, finishing your sentence by looking at him.

He considers it.

"break it up love birds!" Iwa shouted at you. Ryu making obnoxious kissing noises behind him. You quickly let go of his arm to flip her off, causing her to burst out laughing.

Iwa serves.

"it's mine!" Tooru yells. Mid jump, he faces you, the subtlest of winks as the ball flies into the air.

Smiling, you angle your body for a spike, Ryu taking the bait, but at the last moment, your hand sent the ball perpendicular to the net, straight into Oikawa's hand. The ball whizzing past Iwa's ear.

The adrenaline getting the better of you as you both embrace, celebrating a successful kill.

You revel in you best friend and her stoic boyfriend exchanging a bewildered look.

At the end of the game Oikawa offers to drive you home, when out of the way of prying eyes, he leans against his car. "Before your cousin goes to nationals, he and shorty should play against us."

"Yeah and maybe Tobio can set for me one round," you say, playing with the hem of his shirt, "but if there's any funny business from you, I'm calling it off."

"Who, me??" he jokes, aware of his history with your family.

You don't respond, opting to gently press your lips to his. He returns the kiss, cupping your face.

________________

Did I write myself into the story? ┐( ∵ )┌ Maybe a little...

I'm also not opposed to doing a part two, so lemme know in the comments ( ꈍᴗꈍ)

Also not me writing my first Haikyuu fic be Oikawa when I wanna break his knees 🥴🤚 (couldn't resist tho he's been on my mind, especially with glasses 🥵🤒)

Also also not me writing this from 1:30 am to 8am then had half my work deleted so I had to redo it the following night 🤪👈

[mauvefayette6]

hey! could i request something with a female reader whos the granddaughter of mr nolan? shes like really nice and kind but is one of those people to cry really easily over small things. and a lot of students dont like her but she tries to be nice, and like she manages to befriend the poes. maybe she finds out about the dead poets society but instead of telling she secretly leaves new poetry books for them or leaves them food and stuff. thank you!

Goodbye Home || Poets x fem!reader

"What don't you get?!" Yelled the tutor after slamming their fists on the textbook.

"Please stope yelling!" The poor girl cried covering her face with her hands.

"Stop crying, how do you expect to get into Harvard if you can't do basic math?!" The tutor shouted again.

"I do get it I just have some troubles getting there," she muttered bringing her hands down from her face as she glared at the floor.

"This session is over, you don't have the cells in your brain to do these simple trigonometry questions." The tutor slammed the textbook closed as they stormed out the room leaving the scared young girl sitting on the desk chair.

She sighed as she got up and sadly made her way to her dorm room. She wasn't going to make it far in life if she couldn't even do basic trigonometry.

"I'm a failure," she frowned as she sat on her bed. Her roommate, Rebecca, looked over to her from her desk.

"The tutor yelled at you again?" She laughed. "I don't know why Mr. Nolan tries so hard, you'll never even make it to a community college."

"Shut up, I'm trying really hard!" She shouted as she began crying again. She stormed out the room as she mindlessly ran towards the forest.

She liked the trees and the nature, she always felt at home when she was with nature. She wandered and wandered until she heard voices. She grabbed a stick just in case she needed to defend herself.

She got closer and closer to the source of the voices until she noticed a cave she hadn't seen before. She listened in as she tried to hide herself.

"Poetry?" She mumbled surprised as she heard a line from a Walt Whitman poem. She adored poetry and often read poetry when she got the chance. Her English professor Mr. Keating gives her poetry books he thinks she'd like.

She heard them began to chant and dance around and took that as a sign to begin leaving. She ran as quickly as she could back to the school.

"Poetry? Boys in a cave reading poetry?" She repeated to herself as she walked towards her room making sure she was as quiet as possible.

She went into her bed covering herself as she stared at the blank wall. Boys, in the woods, after hours, reading poetry? Questions raced around her head as she slowly fell asleep.

"Wake up!" Screamed her roommate, this scared the girl awake from a dream she wish she hadn't awoken from.

"I'm up," she sighed getting out of bed.

"Hurry and get dressed, breakfast starts in 10 minutes," Rebecca said before walking out the room and towards the dining hall.

"My grandfather wanted to talk to me before breakfast," she cried as she hurried to dress herself. She was down the stairs when she realized she forgot her shoes and ran back to get them.

Rushing to her grandfathers room she opened the door breathing heavily.

"Sorry sir, I wasn't-" she was interrupted by him as he raised a finger motioning for her to hold her tongue.

"I'm tired of these excuses." He began, "As headmaster of this school it brings me great shame that my sons only child can't do not even the most basics of Trigonometry."

"Sir-" she began trying to explain herself.

"You stay silent whilst I'm speaking!" He shouted. She stepped back in fear as she lowered her head trying to keep the tears in.

"I cannot continue to defend you and your outrages stupidity. I'm the laughingstock of the staff, at my own school!" He continued, "look at me when I'm speaking!"

She quickly looked up trying her best to hold in her tears.

"Improve your grades and become top of the school or I'm sending you to the all girls school in France, you understand?" He asked with his best stern face.

"Yes sir," she said looking at him trying to hide her fear.

"You can go eat your breakfast, if you still have time," he muttered the last part as he continued what he was doing. She walked out, she hadn't realized that she was holding her breath. She allowed the tears to fall from her eyes as she quietly sobbed all the way back to the dining hall where she only had five minutes to finish whatever was on her plate.

"What's with the long face?" Rebecca joked as her and her little clique laughed.

"You jerk," she muttered once she was out of sight. She couldn't help but feel isolated, the whole school knew that Mr. Nolan was her grandfather.

(Y/n) Nolan, the inly grandchild of Mr. Nolan and his son Micheal Nolan. Her father passed away during a trip to Norway. Her mother was absent and frequented bars and prison.

She forgave her mother for abandoning her years ago but never forgave her father. She blamed everything on his death. Her relationship with her grandfather, her grades, and her mother alcoholism.

"Meeting tonight," she heard someone whisper. She was snapped away from her thoughts and the familiarity of the voice.

"The boys," she mumbled under her breath as she took notice of a brunette boy walking with a dirty blonde boy. "Neil and Todd?" She muttered.

Mr. Keating was her favorite teacher at Welton and the only reason her grade in English was amazing. He grabbed her attention unlike any other professor had done before. Of course Mr. McAllistor attempts to catch students attention but fails.

"Neil and Todd are Keatings favorite students," she said out loud. "Of course they would start a secret society."

"Talking to yourself are we?" She heard someone say followed by snickers. "Not only are we dumb but also crazy."

"Shit up Rebecca!" She shouted holding back her tears before storming away. No matter where she went Rebecca would be there, not even in the comfort of a dorm room could keep her away. The irony is that her entire educational career they have been roommates and never got along.

She sneaked into the kitchens knowing the cooks were on their break. She began to make her specialty. She enthusiastically mixed the ingredients as she cooked them. After twenty or so minutes it was all ready. She quietly walked out and into the woods. Of course she passed by her dorm to retrieve a certain book she adored.

"Just say hi," she muttered over and over again as she walked to the cave. It took her a while to figure out where it was. As soon as she arrived she sat on a rock debating if she should stay or if she should go.

She heard crunching and footsteps nearing. She looked at the container of food and then at the book before deciding to leave. She left the stuff as she hurried away running and running until she arrived at her dorm room.

"Mr. Nolan was looking for you, he told me to tell you to go to his office immediately." Rebecca said dully.

"Did he say what for?" She asked and Rebecca just shrugged before returning to her homework.

(Y/n) made her way towards her grandfathers office. She knocked twice before going in as she saw her grandfather pacing the room.

"You wanted to see me sir?" She asked catching Mr. Nolan's attention.

"Where were you?!" He shouted angrily catching her by surprise.

"I-" she was interrupted again,

"Never mind that! Very important people are coming in two months to observe the school and the overall average of the school," he began nervously. "We are an exemplary school, it's just you and Mr. Dalton."

"Me?" She asked astonished.

"You and Mr. Dalton are messing up the schools average!" He shouted angrily. "I want you to retrieve Mr. Charles Dalton every Tuesday's for tutoring, I need the average to go up!"

"I don't know a Charles Dalton sir," she said in her most confident voice.

"Then look for him, I can't do everything for you." He grumbled. "You're dismissed."

She walked out his office confused as she began her search for a Charles Dalton. She walked towards her dorm room and opened her Chemistry book.

"Going to try to do homework?" Rebecca mumbled her eyes still on her book.

"Yeah, why?" (Y/n) muttered back still looking at the pages of her textbook.

"I don't know why you bother. Your abilities obviously lie elsewhere." Rebecca turned to look at her causing (Y/n) to turn and look at her.

Rebecca sat there holding up (Y/n)'s private journal. An expression of shock, disgust and betrayal was summoned upon her face.

"My journal?!" She exclaimed standing up tears threaten to fall from her eyes. "Thats my private journal!"

"If it was so private why leave it on top of your desk?" She smirked throwing the journal on her bed. "Nothing interesting anyways. I couldn't imagine living such a worthless and boring life."

(Y/n) stood up and walked out tears falling from her eyes as she attempted and failed to wipe them away. Again and again the tears fell from her eyes as small sobs escaped her lips.

"I can't believe she would stoop this low. Digging in my private thoughts? I couldn't imagine why!" She cried. She was now outside with the trees and nature like she wished she could always be.

She heard laughter and boys making jokes, its the secret club she found about yesterday night. She stood up and dusted herself up as she walked back to the school determined to befriend them somehow.

She envied their friendship in the best possible way. Considering that she's only ever heard them laughing with each other. After a while of debating wether she should return to her dorm room or not. She entered it, where else would she sleep? She wasn't exactly welcomed anywhere else.

She decided to make a plan before sleeping, she'd find out their meeting days and leave them gifts (food, books, ideas, etc).

The following day she crept behind Neil and Todd as they talked to a very handsome boy about their year.

"Meeting tonight, you can't miss out," Neil smiled before walking away. This afternoon? So soon already? She asked herself as she continued to walk deep in thought.

She accidentally bumped into someone as she stumbled backwards almost falling.

"Watch it!" Shouted a boys voice as he turned around.

"I'm so sorry!" She apologized quickly, "are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. Are you?" He asked nonchalantly.

"Yeah, the names (Y/n)-" but she was once again interrupted.

"You're Nolan's kid?" He asked as she nodded. "Charlie Dalton."

"Charles Dalton?" She repeated as he gave her a confused nod. "I'm so glade I finally found you!"

"You were looking for me? Perhaps for an autograph?" He laughed smirking.

"You wish, Mr. Nolan wants us go meet up at the Library I suppose for tutoring. Every Tuesday." She smiled as Charlie rolled his eyes.

"I've been told by letter but I refuse to waste my Tuesday's on tutoring." He shrugged before leaving. She followed behind closely in attempts to convince him of going.

"Please Mr. Dalton! Mr. Nolan will be greatly angered if you don't show up! It's for the good of school!" She shouted as Charlie began to speed up.

"My father's Mr. Dalton. I'm Charlie!" He stopped angrily glaring at her as she attempted to catch her breath.

"Please go, I'll be in loads of trouble if you don't show up, please come?" She begged again with hopeful eye.

"Okay, I'll think about okay?" He said sighing in defeat.

"Thank you so much, it won't be for very long!" She smiled before walking away happily. She walked into the kitchens again and prepared her best deserts that she could think of.

She wondered the library for hours grabbing poetry books and writing down her favorite ones into a small notebook. She decided that this will be her project. She'll write her favorite poems on a notebook until she mustered the courage to befriend them.

She dug in her closet for any poetry books she had, her father was an avid lover of poetry. She smiled as she pulled out her father's favorite poetry book.

She gently put it inside her picnic basket along with the cookies as she quickly walked into the woods smiling as she heard the birds chirp. Although a rather long journey she sat in the rock she previously had.

She smiled as she sat the basket on the ground on top of a blanket she decided to bring. She smiled as she looked around. She wondered how the meetings went, if all they really did was read poetry to each other.

She heard rustling and laughter and took this a sign to hurry out of there. She ran back to the school and towards her dorm room.

"Where were you?" Rebecca asked with a smirk.

"Why does it matter to you?" She muttered angrily sitting on her desk as Rebecca shrugged and went back to her homework.

(Y/n) attempted to finish up her Chemistry project due tomorrow which unsurprisingly failed miserably. She was never good at Chemistry although she didn't completely hate it.

The next morning she woke late as ever and dressed late as ever. She barely even had time to eat a muffin before classes started.

She walked inside Mr. Keating classroom a great smile on her face as she sat in front.

Welton had barely allowed girls into the school after Henley Hall was burnt down a few years back. In attempts to make it work the girls and boys were separated, there were only a handful of girl students. The girls had one schedule as the boys had another schedule.

Luckily for the next class they'd be allowed into Henley Hall as it's quickly being rebuilt.

Mr. Keating was (Y/n) favorite teacher, she didn't have top marks in this class as she didn't have top marks in any other class but Mr. Keating didn't seem to pay much attention to that.

Classes were over as (Y/n) made her way back to the library to write down some more of her favorite poems. Maybe one day she'll be confident enough to finally talk to them. She sighed as she finished writing down the last poem.

She walked to the kitchen and baked and cooked a few things. Hopefully no ones was severely allergic to anything. She smiled at the thought that maybe one day they'll know her name.

Just like the day before she dropped the basket off before fleeing. This went on for weeks than a whole month went by and she was done writing down poems in the notebook.

"Done already?" She muttered to herself. She sighed before going back to her dorm room. She sat on the bed before checking the time. "Ten minutes."

She contemplated her next move, her grades hadn't improved neither had Charlie's. Mr. Nolan was fuming and she just knew she would soon be kicked out. She received a letter yesterday morning during breakfast.

She began getting ready, she packed ever article of clothes and items she owned. She looked at the dorm room sadly before making her way to her grandfathers office. She met Charlie half way there who didn't seem to be worried.

"Why do you think he asked to see us?" Charlie whispered and she shrugged.

"Come in!" Mr. Nolan shouted a tone of rage lingered as they entered the office.

(Y/n) stood tensely and Charlie looked unbothered and unnerved.

"You may be asking why I asked to see you two after classes," he began as he circled them. "As you may know, you two have the lowest marks at this school which is saying a lot as most don't go under a 97%."

She gulped knowing that her lowest mark was in trigonometry being a 39%.

Charlie shrugged nonchalantly, he was the richest student at Welton and if he really wanted he could use his dad's money to keep him in.

"I have talked to your father Charles," Mr. Nolan began, "he agrees with me that you must put extra effort in your marks but we have come to an agreement so you're dismissed but we will be having another talk with your father in two weeks, understood?"

"Clear as water sir," Charlie smiled before walking out of the office room.

"I'm greatly disappointed in you, you're a Nolan for goodness sakes!" He shouted slamming his fists on his table.

"I swear I've been trying sir-" she frantically attempted to explain but Mr. Nolan wanted to hear none of it.

"These are not the principles I've raised you on. Writing poetry and fantasizing about boys." (Y/n) tensed up. "Your roommate Rebecca confided in me about what you're up to."

"Sir-" she once again attempted to explain herself.

"I want to hear no more of this, you're dismissed now." He pointed at the door as he resumed the paper work. She left the room crying and she continued to cry until she reached her dorm room.

"(Y/n)?" Rebecca said in a soft voice.

"How could you? Not only did you read my journal but told Mr. Nolan?" She asked trying to wipe away the tears.

"I-" but Rebecca couldn't finish her sentence as she looked away in shame.

"It's okay, I'm leaving the school anyways. Mr. Nolan's going to kick me out so what use is there in arguing?" She chuckled sadly before once again leaving the room.

She went down to the kitchen with her poetry journal in hand. She grabbed a few cookies before heading to the cave. She was unsure if she was going to see them or not but what difference did it make?

She sat on her usual spot her journal in one hand and the baked goods in the other. She waited, she didn't care for how long she would have to.

That's when she heard laughter and footsteps. She stood ip and dusted her skirt standing tensely.

"(Y/n)?" Charlie Dalton said almost surprised as he entered the room.

"Hi," she smiled awkwardly waving.

"You know her?" Neil whispered and Charlie nodded before looking at the desserts in her hand.

"Are you the person that's been leaving us desserts?" A ginger boy with curly hair asked pointing at the basket.

"I- yes?" She said hesitantly.

"Well we finally put a face to the greatest baker in the world!" An overly optimistic Knox Overstreet smiled.

"I'm Steven Meeks, this is Gerard, Todd, Knox, Neil, Richard and as you may already know Charlie." He smiled introducing everyone.

"I'm (Y/n) Nolan, Mr. Nolan's ex-granddaughter," she laughed sadly.

"Ex? How can someone be someones ex-granddaughter?" Neil asked.

"I've been disowned?" She said in a questioning tone as she tried to hide her tears.

"Does that mean you're leaving Welton?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah, he's ashamed of me and honestly being under his rules are hell and I'd rather be by my own!" She smiled successfully.

"Good on you!" Neil said patting her back.

"Where do you plan to go?" Todd asked nervously.

"My aunt from my moms said she'd take me in, she's all the way in California, I called her and she agreed!" She smiled widely, "I leave next weekend for California."

"We'll miss you even though we barely met each other," Knox smiled bringing her in for a hug.

"I'll miss you guys too, here have this," she smiled reaching for her bag. "I gathered all my favorite poetry just for you guys to enjoy."

And just like that they enjoyed a meeting where nothing else mattered but each others company. (Y/n) left the next weekend as she had joined them for many of there following meetings.

She felt at home for once in her life although she was sad to depart them she knew it was for the best.