The next time Jeanine came she reminded our group of our suggestions and we started to think of how we could make our ideas happen. One girl suggested, “How about we have an spirit week?”. Jeanine answered, “That’s good. It can be like an aids awareness week”. One student, Alex, and I immediately set off towards the goal of planning an aids awareness week. First, we needed to plan what each day would call for. Earlier on in the school year most students were very excited for spirit week. We hoped to get the same reaction for aids awareness week. Alex looked online for ideas of each day, as I started to write a future announcement that would be said over the school intercom. It was challenging to pick an activity for each day because we did not want students to break the dress code. Alex was shooting off ideas to me for many minutes until we finally decided on one activity for each day. While we were thinking, one girl named Rebecca was planning a tailgate party after school. After some time, Alex and I agreed on having the week from March 30th to April 3rd. Monday March 30th would be dress like your favorite celebrity day, Tuesday would be fashion disaster day, Wednesday would be favorite sports team day, Thursday would be fake injury day, and Friday would be Red day. We showed our ideas to Jeanine, and she told us to type a letter to ask for permission to hold the week-long event. Jeanine told us that after we wrote the letter we should present the letter to the principal. After finally finishing typing the letter, Alex, Jeanine, and I walked up to the principal’s office. Jeanine was very excited about our progress, but I felt nervousness creep up as we walked to the office. Eventually we reached the main office. Inside it was very large, and since I had never been in the office before I did not know where to go. Thankfully, Jeanine asked the secretary where to find the principal, and we walked through the door that she pointed out. Behind the secretary’s desk was a surprisingly large hall, with small rooms and desks along the side of the hallway. As we walked I looked at the labels next to each room that told who worked inside. At the end of the hallway we saw an administrator, and seeming to understand that we were not sure where to go, she asked us, “Can I help you?”. As she handed the administrator the letter, Jeanine answered, “Yes, we have a proposal for the principal. Could you tell us where we could find him?”. The administrator was quiet as she read the letter, except for the occasional mmhm. When she was done reading she said, “This sounds good. I am sorry but he is in a meeting right now, but would you like to come back later, or leave the letter here?”. Jeanine looked at us, but I truly has no clue what to do, so I just shrugged. Jeanine told the administrator, “I think that we will just come back later. When do you think he will be available?”. The administrator thought for a minute and told us, “I think he will be in tomorrow”. We all thanked her profusely and left the office. On the walk back Jeanine said, “Wow. Well this is a great start. Maybe you two could meet before school tomorrow and talk to the principal, or if you have a class together you could plan on your own. Do not forget to let me know of the results!”. Alex smiled and said, “Ok”, and I just nodded. The next day I saw Alex as I put my instrument in the orchestra room. I walked towards her and started to ask about the letter, but she told me, “Don’t worry, we can probably go to the office again in orchestra today”. All through my classes I was restless because I felt Rock4Life was such a big, exciting project, and it greatly involved the outside world. When the finally rang for switching to orchestra class, I practically ran down the hallways. Alex was waiting for me behind the orchestra room double doors, and both of us went to our orchestra teacher for permission to go to the office. Once gaining permission, we again walked to the office, but this time we were without Jeanine. This time I felt less nervous inside the office, and both of us went into the secret hallway behind the secretary’s desk. The same administrator recognized us, and happily told us that the principal was available. She lead us to a closed door and lightly knocked on it. The principal said, “Come in” and we slowly walked inside his office. Like the unusually large hallway, his room was also big, and had a window, a wooden desk, a short bookcase, and carpeted floors. I thought that being a principal does have its rewards. The principal smiled widely saying, “Welcome. What can I do for you girls?”. I looked at Alex and she stepped forward holding out the letter, stating, “We have a letter asking your approval for an Aids awareness week, which will hopefully raise awareness for the orchestra’s Rock4Life concert in May”. The principal took the letter and quickly read it over. “We know that some of our ideas will be denied…” Alex started. “Because of the dress code” I included. “…but right now we would like to know some of your thoughts” Alex finished. I nodded in agreement. The principal stopped reading the letter and told us, “Well, I think you have a great idea. So far, the week sounds fine, but the tailgate party might take a while, since there is a lot of planning involved. Otherwise, good job girls”. Alex and I excitedly smiled at each other, and we quickly thanked the principal as we made our exit.
Maya
