Chapter 5; Kalyn

Now, well into the school routine and getting the hang of most of her Arts subjects, Kalyn was very much looking forward to the new year with her friend, Rhodie and a few other people she actually had the courage to talk to during the first term. She was still wary of the other students with their sharp wit, clever answers and ridiculously good grades but she had decided that she could live with it at least for two years.

As always, one of the important aspects of a new year is coming up with a list of resolutions one would hope to stick to throughout the year. I say ‘hope’ because few actually manage to go through with at least one, all the way to St Valentine’s Day.... I’d be surprised if by the Epiphany even, you would actually have included ‘Don’t procrastinate as much’ in the list itself...

Kalyn was no different. She always liked the idea of lists and having things to do and doing them. However, she had never got around to naming a list ‘New Year’s Resolutions’. This year was different. She had got out a pen and paper on the first day of January and made a list of all the goals she wanted to achieve in the span of 365 days. She had put the easiest to reach, like “Think positive thoughts”, at the top and the hardest at the bottom - (One being: “Get a Catholic boyfriend”). But the one resolution exactly in the middle was the one she was most determined to keep for as long as she could and that was to start writing in a Journal.

A few weeks into the year, this had become almost a daily routine as she would sit at her desk with a mug of hot chocolate and cookies while listening to music and writing her thoughts and the events of the day.

“Dear Diary,” she always began.

Usually she took time to look back on what she had done throughout that day. Then, she would start writing. This would prove to be a great way to justify herself in any future circumstance as the evidence is written on paper.

“Dear Diary,

Today I made friends with a girl who was at one of my old schools and who used to tease me along with the rest. Yes. I made friends with her because I forgave her and also because Rhodie told me that she is known to be an orphan who has gone through much psychological pain. I felt sorry for her. Her name is Ashley and she is with me in almost every class. I don’t think she remembers who I am because she didn’t mention our childhood days. It’s better that way - a fresh start.

I don’t know many people from the other courses yet. The arts students are not all very approachable too but the few I have talked to (with Rhodie’s help) seem quite friendly. I’m also getting to know them better thanks to the presentations that we’re meant to do in class. Although I’m not a keen public speaker, the fact that we have to work together benefits my social skills. Speaking about presentations, I had better go and do some more research as it is due in three more days! Wish me luck!”

Sarah Zammit Munro

#archives