By JENNY ALPAUGH – Print Managing Editor
The state level Governor’s Honors Program interview; I’d been dreaming about it since the fall of my tenth grade year when I was nominated in Communicative Arts, but didn’t progress past the first set of interviews.
GHP is a four week summer program held in Valdosta, Ga, funded entirely by the Georgia Department of Education. Only a select few students are chosen through a series of interviews.
Jan. 26 was my chance to convey to the interviewers at the state level my love for reading and writing. I would be surrounded by hundreds of other sophomores and juniors, who would be hoping to do the same.
My interview time was 11:50 and I arrived at Luella High School in McDonough, Ga. anxious and excited, an hour beforehand. The wait was agonizing, I knew in about half an hour’s time I’d be determining whether or not I would spend four weeks of my summer at GHP.
“All 11:50 Communicative Arts nominees please proceed to the registration gate.”
It was finally time. After being ushered into a room with about 20 other GHP hopefuls and making small talk for 15 painfully long minutes, we were led to a new room. This would be the room in which we would complete a 60-minute essay demonstrating literary comprehension and writing ability.
I placed the period on the last sentence of my piece a few minutes before time was called. It was now time for the interview.
After finishing the essay I looked for the number 14, when I registered thats what I was told my interviewing number would be. I found the room that had a sign displaying the numbers 13 and 14. I took a seat in the desk that had been the victim of a coffee spill earlier in the morning.
“Jenny?”
My interviewer poked her head out of the door, searching the hall for her next interviewee. I walked inside the classroom, trying to remain calm and composed on the outside despite my insides screaming in terror and filled with butterflies that had wooden wings.
But then I sat down and started talking, and something wonderful happened. My nerves disappeared and was able to have the most wonderful conversation with my two interviewers about books, my past experiences with communicative arts and we even talked about running track.
I managed to do what I thought would be impossible, I enjoyed my interview. Now I will wait, it will be at least several weeks before the list of the select few is posted.
But whether I make it or not, I know that I was able to share with two strangers, unhindered by nerves, my love for reading, writing and learning.
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