Jane — Student
Student — Journal Entry
September 13th, 7pm
Dear Diary,
My first week back to school has gone pretty well but I find it rather boring. Mr. J seems nice and kind of different from the other teachers. He talks about the same old boring stuff about how great the government is and how we are supposed to behave, but sometimes I wonder if he really believes what he’s saying. My mom thinks he’s a good teacher because on occasion he’ll talk about more than just basic Math, History, and English. That’s when school is actually interesting.
September 29th, 12pm
Dear Diary,
It's lunch time but I’m so sick of eating the same thing everyday. Mom said we can’t afford to buy meat so we have to eat the rationed food that is given to us. I actually don’t mind tofu but if you eat anything everyday you’ll get tired of it. It is still scorching hot outside so we haven’t gone outside in a few days — not that there’s much to do anyway. I usually just spend most of my free time messaging a few of my friends on my phone or looking at fun things on social media.
November 1st, 9pm
Dear Diary,
Mr J. has started to talk about restricted subjects a lot more often. I find these topics really interesting! I hope he doesn’t get in trouble. He has also started telling us about the test we have to take at the end of December. Mom already told me about it and it seems like a really big deal. She thinks if I get a high enough score I will be able to get a really good job when I’m older. She says I could be a Class 2 citizen and live in a fancy house. I’m not sure if I want to do well though. If I get a high score I will have to leave mom and dad to attend one of those elite private schools. Dad wrote to me in one of mom's letters. He keeps stressing the importance of doing well. He says I don’t understand it now but that I will when I’m older. Maybe he’s right. Anyway, I’m exhausted. I need to take my vitamins and then I’m going to bed.
November 20th, 7pm
Dear Diary,
Sorry I haven’t written in awhile. I’ve been so busy studying. The test is all my friends and classmates seem to talk about in our group chat. Jenny said her older cousin passed the test 5 years ago, so she’s probably going to pass the test too. I find that unlikely…I bet her cousin didn’t even pass. It is rare that students get a high enough score to go to the elite schools, but suddenly around this time of year everyone and their mom claims to know someone who’s passed the test. I wish we didn’t have to do this! It is so stressful. I heard that if you pass and end up at one of the private schools, you don’t even get to choose your career once you graduate. They tell you which job you are best suited for.
December 17th, 9:30pm
Dear Diary,
No time to write! Tomorrow is testing day and mom says its important to get a good nights sleep. Wish me luck.