**Sandi**
As Principal Anderson finished speaking, his voice clear and commanding, he declared, “Now that I’ve selected the five recipients of this opportunity, the rest of you are free to leave. Enjoy the rest of your day.” His words felt hollow, and I watched in silence as most of the room’s occupants stood up and hurried out, eager to escape whatever had just transpired.
From my vantage point on the stage, only a handful of families remained—parents clutching their children, their faces tense and uncertain. My own parents sat nearby, silent, their eyes fixed on the scene unfolding.
“Family members of these young women,” Anderson called out, his tone smooth but cold, “please step closer to the stage.”
Without hesitation, they all moved forward, filling the front rows with anxious, ex
