“This is what your semester will look like,” Mr. Lewis said, pointing his remote at the projector.

The screen flickered to life, casting a faint glow across the room as the semester’s timeline appeared. It was a masterpiece of organization. Each month was divided into tidy columns, with color-coded text marking tests, projects, and deadlines. Red for exams, blue for projects, and yellow for school events. It was the kind of chart that looked like it belonged in a military brief rather than a high school classroom.

Mr. Lewis tapped the remote, highlighting the red markers on the screen. “First, let’s talk about the big tests—midterms and finals... Midterms will take place in early November and will account for 25% of your final grade. These exams will cover everything we’ve studied in the first half of the semester and set the tone for the rest of the year. It’s imperative to realize that a good midterm grade can build momentum, while a weak midterm can put you in a hole that’s hard to climb out of, especially with finals waiting at the end of the semester.”

Mr. Lewis clicked the remote again, and the screen shifted to December, where a large, bold red marker loomed.

“Final exams will account for 40% of your final grade. Yes, you heard me correctly—40%! That’s almost half of your overall grade determined by a single test.”

Mr. Lewis glanced around the room.

“Now, I know 40% sounds like a lot—and it is—but here’s the thing: If you’ve been keeping up all year, the final will reflect that. It’s not designed to trip you up. It’s designed to reward consistency. But if you’ve been cutting corners or putting things off until the last minute, it will expose that too.”

Mr. Lewis changed the slide.

“To ensure you’re all keeping up with the lessons, I’ve decided to insert pop quizzes into our schedule every two weeks! These quizzes will focus on the most recent topics we’ve covered and should be straightforward—provided, of course, you keep up with your homework.”

A soft groan rippled through the room. It was clear most of the class wasn’t intrigued with the news.

“Even though they might not seem important, quizzes can make a difference between a pass or a fail,” Mr. Lewis explained. “All together, the quizzes will be worth 15% of your final grade. Missing a few here and there might not seem like a big deal, but it adds up.”

I scribbled down “quizzes = 15%” in my notebook and underlined it twice for good measure. Although Mr. Lewis’s schedule seemed straightforward, it didn’t make it any less daunting. Between the bi-weekly quizzes, the midterms, and the looming finals, it was clear my mornings would be nothing less than hectic.

“Lastly, the remaining 20% of your grade will come from projects and class participation,” Mr. Lewis revealed. “Projects will challenge you to think critically and creatively about the material. Class participation—well, that’s just about showing up and staying engaged.”

The slide faded to black as he turned off the projector.

“Are there any questions?” Mr. Lewis asked, looking around the room.

A few hands twitched but stayed down. Most of us just sat there, quietly processing what we’d heard.

“Alright then, it seems no one has any questions. Perfect,” Mr. Lewis said, setting the remote down with a small smile. “Before we head off to lunch, there’s one last thing I should’ve brought up earlier. I’d like each of you to stand up, introduce yourself, and share two interesting facts about who you are.”

Crap...

There was a collective murmur as everyone processed his request. While some of my classmates looked excited, I was terrified. If there was anything I struggled with more than socializing, it was public speaking. It was the one thing I dreaded more than anything.

“Let’s start from the front of the class,” Mr. Lewis said, pointing to the front row.

A girl with dark green hair slowly stood up from her seat, yawning as she stretched.

“My name is Lily Campbell and I’m from Canada... Um, nice to meet you all.”

The sluggish way she rubbed her eyes made it clear she had just woken up from a nap.

Mr. Lewis nodded encouragingly. “Remember, you need to share two things about yourself.”

“To be honest, I can’t think of anything right now,” Lily replied, scratching her head.

“Hmm... Do you have any hobbies?”

Lily paused, her fingers still in her hair. After a moment, she shrugged. “I like to write, I guess.”

“That’s wonderful. Writing is a great hobby. Nice to meet you, Lily!”

Lily gave a small nod before sinking back into her seat.

“Alright, then, who’s up next?” Mr. Lewis said, glancing at the next student in line.

A boy with brown hair and brown eyes stood up and faced the class with a smile.

“Hi, everyone! My name is Robert. My family is originally from Romania, but we live in Manchester now. I enjoy playing sports, especially fencing. I’ve been fencing for most of my life and hope to compete in the Magus Olympics one day... I hope to get along with everyone!”

I couldn’t help but be impressed by how effortlessly Robert introduced himself. He seemed incredibly charismatic. He was the kind of person who could command a room with just a few words. Judging by how most of the girls were staring at him with hearts in their eyes, I had no doubt he would become the most popular guy in our class.

As Robert took his seat, the next person in line grabbed just as much, if not more, attention. It was Violet’s turn to introduce herself.

“Good morning, everyone! My name is Violet Scott, and I’m from New York... I have many hobbies, like watching movies, reading, and playing sports. My favorite sport is volleyball. As some of you may already know, I’ve been actively involved in several leadership roles in the past and plan on doing the same during my time here...”

While the two students before had kept their introductions short, Violet’s was a little longer. If I didn’t know any better, it felt less like an intro and more like a carefully rehearsed speech.

“I truly believe in the power we hold as students and the incredible difference we can make when our voices are heard. That’s why our class needs to have a strong representative who truly listens and advocates for our needs and ideas. If given the opportunity, I would be honored to serve as your class representative. I’ll work hard to address your concerns, push for better resources, and organize events that make our school life more enjoyable... Thank you for your time.”

As Violet sat down, the room buzzed with murmurs of approval and curiosity. I couldn’t help but be impressed by her poise and conviction. She had seized the first opportunity she saw to voice her goals. After such a stunning display, I seriously doubted anyone would have the guts to stand in her way.

“I’m not good at talking, so I’ll keep this short,” said a boy with dark hair. “My name is Thomas and I’d like to become an engineer. My favorite pastime is playing video games. Nice to meet you all.”

Just as quickly as he had stood up, he sat back down. His introduction was short and sweet. Of all the intros I’d heard so far, it was the one that seemed easiest to imitate.

The next person to stand up was a boy with blonde, almost whitish hair. The boy fixed his hair and adjusted his tie. Judging by the flashy jewelry he wore, it was clear he enjoyed being the center of attention.

“My name is Arthur Wolf. I’m sure many of you have heard of me... My father is the founder and leader of the Phoenix Guild. One day, I will inherit his position and become the wealthiest man in Germany. My future holds great promise, but there is one thing I am missing. Every king needs his queen.”

With a flourish gesture, he took out a long-stemmed rose from his blazer and cleared his throat. “For the next four years, I will be searching for my queen. Someone who can stand by my side and support me... Ladies, I look forward to getting to know all of you.”

This Arthur guy had quite the personality in him. Instead of introducing himself to the class, he’d focused on catching the attention of the girls in the room. Interestingly enough, some of the girls seemed intrigued by his wealth and confidence, while others looked at him as if he were a weirdo.

“Good morning, everyone. Um... My name is Haruna Nanao. I was born and raised in Tokyo. Even though I don’t have many hobbies, my favorite is learning languages. As of now, I’ve learned eight languages, six of which I can speak fluently.”

Haruna’s purple hair was neatly tied back around her shoulders, contrasting beautifully with her delicate features. Despite looking a little nervous, she had an air of quiet confidence about her.

“That’s an impressive hobby! Would you mind telling us which languages you’re fluent in?” Mr. Lewis inquired.

“I can speak Japanese, English, French, Spanish, Korean, and Mandarin.”

“Learning so many languages is quite the feat.” Mr. Lewis clapped his hands together. “Keep at it, Haruna! That’s truly commendable.”

Haruna bowed her head modestly and quickly sat back down. Her face was still slightly flushed. Even though she didn’t have the same charismatic flair as Violet or Robert, there was something unique about her. Something subtle yet captivating. Judging by the way several boys couldn’t seem to take their eyes off her, I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

As the class introductions continued, my turn inched closer, and I began wondering how I should word my speech. I knew I wanted to keep it short, but I also didn’t want to come off as weird. I needed to find the right balance between being concise and friendly so that people would see me as an ordinary, approachable guy.

This was where things became complicated.

Mr. Lewis had said every student had to list two things about themselves. Unfortunately, I didn’t even know where to start. All I could think of was that I could say I was from Korea. Beyond that, I was at a loss. There didn’t seem to be anything particularly interesting about myself to share.

Hmm... What do I even say?

“Young man with the dark hair... what’s your name?”

It wasn’t until the silence in the room stretched a little too long that I realized all eyes were on me. Trying my best to ignore the stares, I stood up and bowed.

“Oh, hi... My name is James. And, uh, I’m from Korea. There’s nothing I’m particularly good at, but I like to read... It’s nice to meet you all.”

Mr. Lewis smiled warmly. “Nice to meet you too, James.”

As the class moved on to the next person, I sank back into my seat, feeling like a failure.

Despite my efforts, the worst possible scenario had come true. If only I hadn’t spent so much time figuring out what to say, maybe things would have turned out differently. Perhaps I could have said something more memorable.

How pathetic can I be...

Deciding there was no use in dwelling on my frustration, I shifted my focus to the rest of the introductions. At the very least, I could make an effort to learn the names and faces of my classmates. Maybe then, my entire morning wouldn’t feel like a complete waste.