Poor Kids Unite!

6:45 a.m. my day begins. I greet the morning light with enthusiasm, and gaily change into my classic deep-v, dark Levi's, and a cute scarf. Shortly after, Abuela has left me to explore the world across from Commons, the entrance to the Quest Bridge Prep Scholarship Conference at Yale University.

The first thing I notice? Everyone is wearing a button down shirt with a tie, or a dress , or something business/formal. As I expected, and was assured through out the day, these low-income students were more "high-achieving" kids, awkward and elite, who liked to stick up their noses just like they actually go to these name brand schools; obviously it's not money that makes some people feel so superior. There were a few down to Earth teens, but far too few.

Registration. Breakfast. Spilling coffee all over someone's binder. I made friends.

"I think you mean 'contraction'," echoed in the first workshop when I said "conjunction" in regards to what-not-to-do in your personal statement. Fortunately, the rest of the workshop and those after were a breeze. I quickly befriended Ellison (an awesome girl in SC) and Nancy (a crazy hipster chic, valedictorian, and instant cuddle buddy from MA) , who accompanied me to workshops such as "Financial Aid" and "How to Apply". Let me say this: it was very useful and helpful information that should be available to all students. However, the real ticket was meeting college admissions officers; I was the cause of an argument between Emory and Columbia, the interest of Parson's, and a breath of fresh air to Pomona, Haverford, and Vasser. Sorry Bowdowin, you suck. Williams College did entice me with their answer to, "Is there a queer presence on your campus?": "Oh yes! We have Queer Bash!", which was later described as an event where everyone (gay and straight) gets together, takes off their clothes, blasts techno music, and dances to gay porn in the semi-dark.
Then I got lost in ghetto.

CONRAD'S MUST-DO'S:
** BEFRIEND PEOPLE WHO LOVE CONTRACTIONS WITH SOUL.
** EXPLORE AND BRANCH OUT WHEN LOOKING AT THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE. ** GIVE CLEAN BINDERS TO OTHERS WHEN YOU SOIL THEIR BINDER.

CONRAD'S MUST-NOT'S:
** TAKE THE D BUS WHEN YOU MEAN THE B BUS.
** GET LOST WHEN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN A MEETING.
** NOT BUY SHORTS BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU'LL LOOK EASY.