Luis, Veronica and Allison were sitting in the same classroom together having advanced functions math class in the 11th grade. They sat next to each other at the front row of the classroom as they focused on the white board where the teacher was writing out the polynomial orders of equations along with the limit theorems as stated. The following was on the board was opposite circular curves that represented a smiley and frown mouth. The teacher, Mrs. Jones asked the class about what do these symbols look like to you.
Allison simply replied; “Concave up and Concave down.”
The class was shocked that Allison already knew what was going in the advanced function course, but Luis and Veronica literally had no idea what was going on, or they forgot their mathematical review from last year that had brief introduction of these concepts. The teacher asked when a single or double derivative is used within a relationship of a curve to help find the x roots or y equation potentially.
The classroom was silent for quite a while until a curly blonde-haired girl answered: “Single derivatives for finding the inflection point and double derivative for finding the concave up or down status. Like if f ‘’ (x) > 0, thus therefore the concavity is positive.”
Mrs. Jones was astonished and commented simply; “Great job Sandra.”
As the class continued, Allison and Sandra were the only ones who could answer the questions as the lesson on advanced functions of polynomial relationships continued. When Allison replied to a question after raising her hand, a couple of boys giggled and muttered “Geek or Nerd” about her. Those remarks got Mrs. Jones concerned and she told them not to make a judgement, she then asked those boys to answer the next questions which made them suddenly uncomfortable. Sandra smiled.
Tracy nervously sat in her 9th grade English class and looked around, saw familiar faces and friends all from her elementary school who just transitioned to secondary school like she did. A close friend of hers, Alexandra, saw her as she sat next to her as class was about to begin. Alexandra was quite skinny, very pale, had freckles and was wearing glasses, with her blackberry-colored hair sprouting out.
“Hey Trixie,” Alexandra said to Tracy. “Hope things are going well for ya.”
“Just nervous about high school,” Tracy, who was also nicknamed Trixie replied. “Just not sure if is gotta turn out well or not.”
“Eh, don’t worry Trix,” Tracy’s best friend Alexandra replied in a very bright tone. “It will go by fine.”
As she finished her sentence, English class started with the teacher named Miss Halls as the lecture started to do a brief overview of sentence structures, reading comprehension, outline for the course. Tracy was finding this stuff all right, neither monotonous nor fun.
♦♦♦
After a couple of indicative classes, Luis, Allison, and Veronica reunited in the cafeteria alongside Aiden and his friends. They arrived in the cafeteria after they went through school orientation at the start of lunch break while they filled up surveys in the meantime. They start to eat their lunches and communicate on how high school went as of now. Sandra passed by them and asked if they did not mind if she sits with them, as the others shook their heads towards her, thus she sat down next to Allison.
“Boy this school is dumb,” Aiden said aloud.
“I highly agree.” Sandra commented. “It’s like no one knows what the hell is going on, suddenly forgot their mathematical review from last year.”
“Hey, that’s uncalled for,” Luis said. “At least I am trying, I do know my math in some ways.”
“Oh really?” Allison spoke. “How do you find the asymptotes of x and y within the equation, eh Luis?”
Luis responded in a grunted manner. “It has something to do with the numerator and denominator, I can tell you that and I think you set x equal to zero, something like that.”
“Close enough,” Sandra replied with a giggle. “Hey Aiden, have you done early applications or considerations for University?”
Aiden paused for a moment. “I am not entirely certain or sure, I mean I am doing well in my mathematics, but don’t really have a fond attraction to the subject itself.”
Allison and Sandra looked at Aiden as they both spoke at the same time; “You never liked math all along?” Sandra and Allison both spook in disbelief simultaneously.
“Yup!” Aiden simply replied while resting his right cheek on his right hand, with his elbow resting on the cafeteria table.
“Oh, come on!” Luis complained. “I like the subject math, but this guy manages to ace the math and doesn’t even like it, come on man!”
“Come on Luis,” Allison spoke in an encouraged manner. “I’m sure you are good in some stuff at least, like your hobby, archery.”
Luis stated, “That is true,” nodding slowly. The five-start discussing what their plans are after high school and what they should do about it. Suddenly, three scrawny boy figures passed by them in the cafeteria and saw them.
“Oh no, not you hooligans,” Aiden grumbled jokingly. “The so-called Trinity Guys.”
One of the trinity guys chuckled at that remark and simply responded back saying; “Come on Aiden, when is it that you are not grumpy? I have never ever seen you smile ever.”
Aiden groaned more and the
