America 1982-Chapter 44 - 3: Crazy Ideas

"Actually, I’ve had some other ideas," Tommy Hawk paused for a moment before saying to Ottilia Farrell, "Some bolder ideas, but I’m not sure if the school would support me. After all, there’s no precedent for this at Lincoln High School, and it might make the principal think that I am unscrupulous in trying to get into a good college."

Ottilia frowned slightly at the word ’unscrupulous’ before responding, "You are simply working hard to get into the college of your dreams, why use the word unscrupulous? It’s perfectly normal for students to aspire to be admitted into their preferred prestigious universities, and the principal should be pleased with your ambition, Tommy. As long as you aren’t doing something wrong, like kidnapping a college’s principal to get admitted, he won’t think so poorly of his own students."

"Are you sure?" Tommy Hawk asked Ottilia with a somewhat skeptical look, "To be honest, it seems that the teachers and principal at this high school don’t really like trouble."

Ottilia nodded confidently, "Share your thoughts, and I will decide for myself if it’s troublesome."

Tommy immediately pulled over the whiteboard in the office, stood in front of it, and rapidly wrote down a few words with a marker pen. He was so quick that it was apparent these words must have been circling in his mind for a long time, just waiting for an opportunity to be presented to others.

"Achievement." After listing a few options, Tommy started explaining the first one to Ottilia, "Prestigious colleges require students to have accomplishments beyond grades."

Ottilia looked at Tommy, "Isn’t that what I’ve told you? It’s very common to have state or national level awards, and international accomplishments would of course be best."

"Exactly." Tommy marked ’international level’ next to achievement, then pointed to the second option, "Leadership."

Ottilia appeared less interested because Tommy hadn’t presented any complete plan yet, only outlining what colleges expect high school students to demonstrate.

"Those prestigious schools want high schoolers submitting applications to engage in influential social activities, to tell the world that they are individuals who understand and give love, care for others, possess humanity, talent, and leadership qualities," said Tommy Hawk as he looked at Ottilia, "Leadership—wouldn’t it be even better on an international stage?"

"Of course," Ottilia nodded reluctantly.

Noticing Ottilia’s reaction, Tommy hurried on, "I’ll make it short since I see you’re almost bored to sleep, Ms. Farrell. The third item is responsibility, the fourth is growth. Those universities want to see from high schoolers’ applications and personal statements that the individuals have grown during high school and have become responsible person. The greater the sense of responsibility and the more growth shown, the happier they are, because that indicates the incoming student has matured and is no longer a happy idiot."

"I’ve been through those four options and know them better than you, Tommy, you don’t need to remind me," Ottilia interjected.

"Put all four together, and do you know what I’ve thought of? Starting a high school club and organizing a summer camp, and then asking Mr. Williams from the Rhode Island government’s student office to contact the embassies of those small Caribbean nations to conduct an international cultural exchange. Some of those countries are even smaller than Warwick City, and they are all populated by Blacks who are full of longing for the United States, including their Presidents or other high-ranking officials," Tommy Hawk said with gleaming eyes as he looked towards Ottilia.

"If the plan goes through..."

"You get an international award, and maybe a letter of recommendation from the President or the Minister of Foreign Affairs of that country?" Ottilia, initially taken aback by Tommy’s words, quickly caught on and interjected.

Tommy nodded, "Those Black Presidents..."

"Tommy! Watch your language!" Ottilia sternly corrected Tommy Hawk’s words.

Tommy revised his wording a bit, "Well, letters of recommendation from those little Caribbean country presidents aren’t very useful. If the plan goes through, the best outcome would be for me to acquire letters of recommendation from the US Ambassador to the Caribbean as well as the Governor of Rhode Island."

This strategy was a common trick designed by white Americans in Tommy Hawk’s previous life to get their children into prestigious schools, generally employed by wealthy American families, who would stop at nothing to get their children into colleges.

Of course, the really top-tier families didn’t need to resort to such schemes; they could directly secure the celebrity recommendations and accomplishments required for their children’s applications to elite universities, along with any other conditions. In his previous life, Tommy Hawk had attended Boston University and had once slept with a white girl from Harvard. Naturally, her agreement to sleep with Tommy was also to collect ethnicities, not out of any real desire to date.

While chatting with the white girl, Tommy discovered that she had gotten into Harvard with a letter of recommendation from a famous Harvard alumnus and that even her SATs had been arranged by someone else to take on her behalf.

The alum was a journalist who had won international awards, and the girl’s social activity consisted of assisting this journalist with overseas activities. As for why the journalist would recommend this white girl? It was simple, because the journalist worked for the girl’s father.

When it came to enrolling in prestigious schools, it wasn’t that the university was choosing her—she was choosing the university.

American wealthy white families without the above-mentioned power would strive to make their children’s profiles look more impressive by any means necessary, all to make their children’s resumes seem superior to those of Asian applicants. For white students simply could not compete against Asians on grades and regular individual achievements.

In order to get into elite schools, these white Americans came up with the idea of striking up international exchange with some inconspicuous small country, allowing their children to be recognized as youth leaders by high-ranking officials of that small country, thus adding to their children’s halo.

The small Caribbean countries were the best choices for several reasons. First, these countries were close enough to the United States—at least closer from Boston than to Los Angeles. Second, these countries were primarily black, and many prestigious schools suffer from an excess of political correctness. Third, these countries were pro-American and looked up to the United States. Fourth, these countries’ presidents might not be as wealthy as the mayor of an American town, yet they were actual heads of state recognized by the United Nations.

Seeing Ottilia Farrell’s astonished expression at this moment, Tommy thought that perhaps the white Americans of 1982 weren’t as competitive as those in 2022. After all, mainland China’s students had not yet started the trend of going abroad to teach Americans about college competitiveness.

"You’re going to start a club and then exchange with some school in a small country? Hold competitions?"

"Not just that. Charity work can also be accomplished in passing. Our club will initiate a fundraising campaign with local high school students, and then donate clothes, books, food, and the like to those black students in the small countries," Tommy Hawk told Ottilia.

"From initiating a club, organizing fundraising, traveling to the country, cultural exchange, competition awards, to returning in triumph, it can demonstrate my leadership qualities and includes several other aspects. The main thing is still the international activity. Moreover, I’m thinking of charging fees for external participation to earn my college expenses. There surely aren’t only I who need this kind of experience. What do you think?"

Ottilia opened her mouth, wanting to say that Tommy was cheating, yet she felt that it wasn’t actually cheating. However, everything he did, whether it was leadership, charisma, or outward performance, was not a true reflection of his inner self but just to meet the college requirements and... to make money.

"Although it’s a bit strange, I don’t have any reason to stop you from starting it. However, according to school regulations, starting a club requires a minimum of three people to apply jointly," Ottilia said. "Are you sure there are still people at Lincoln High School who are willing to do these things for college admission?"

Tommy smiled, "Perfect, I just happen to have two co-founders."

"Dennis and Pam... What could they possibly exchange with the children of the Caribbean? Teach them how to watch pay-per-view adult channels?" Seeing Tommy’s expression, Ottilia looked down, but soon raised her head again and asked the last question, "What do you plan to name this club?"

"Caribbean and American Youth Leaders Summer Summit, or CSLS for short."