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student council at St. Hilary’s. I’m the teacher representative for the ninth grade student council. This afternoon’s meeting will focus on nominating class officers for next week’s election. Has anyone thought about running for an officer position?”
    Tuning him out, I looked around the room. A couple of guys were playing paper football in the back while a group of girls next to me were doodling their boyfriends’ names on pieces of paper. It all reminded me of last year’s student council meetings. Somehow, I’d thought life would be different in high school. I’d thought I’d be surrounded by people who wanted to make a difference in the world—or at least in the school. Instead, I was stuck with a bunch of people who probably signed up for student council only because it would look good on their high school transcripts.
    Suddenly, it occurred to me: Is this what life was going to be like—always expecting something better and more exciting, and then continuously being disappointed? What if nothing ever changed, and I lived out my life as a nobody? What if I was cursed with being shy the rest of my life? What if I never kissed anyone and died a lonely death? What if I threw up in school again?
    A massive panic attack swept over me. I gasped, trying to catch my breath as sweat trickled down my face. Struggling to breathe, I realized I would flounder the rest my life, uncertain of what to do or say in every situation presented to me. Instantly, there was no doubt in my mind that I’d remain a lumbering, reclusive loser who’d have to dig through trash bins for food.
    Feeling utterly alone and completely immersed in the image of my future self wearing six layers of clothing and pushing a broken shopping cart down a dingy alley to my refrigerator box home, I suddenly heard my name being called from a great distance.
    “Yes?” I croaked, swallowing what little spit there was left in my mouth.
    “Great!” Mr. Benson beamed. “I’ll need your campaign posters up by this Friday, and elections will be held on Monday of the following week. Good luck, and may the best person win!”
    Students filed out of the room as I tried to figure out what had happened.
    “What’s Mr. Benson talking about?” I asked Lisa.
    “What do you mean, ‘What’s Mr. Benson talking about?’ You were right there. After Jessie nominated Cassie for president of student council, I nominated you. Then, Jake Harris seconded my nomination, which really surprised me. Anyway, that was the plan I was telling you about earlier. I knew you wanted to make a big change in your life this year, so I thought I’d help by nominating you for ninth grade class president. I can’t believe you actually went along with it. I mean, you didn’t even hesitate when Mr. Benson asked you if you agreed to run. There may be hope for you yet.”
    “Are you crazy? There’s no way I’m going to run against Cassie Foster for class president! That would mean people staring at me in the hallway, and I’d have to give a speech in front of over two hundred people!” I held my hands out for her to examine. “Look at my palms—they’re breaking out in hives even thinking about it! I don’t care what I said—I was in the middle of a delusion. I’m telling Mr. Benson to take back my nomination.”
    “No, you are not! Mia, this is going to be incredible. You are running against Cassie for class president, and I know you can beat her because I’ll be your campaign manager.” Lisa dragged me out of the classroom. “Now, let’s get going—we have so much to do!”
    “All I wanted was a simple, quiet year to work on my self-esteem. I don’t think becoming the laughing stock of St. Hilary’s is going to do much for my self-worth.”
    “But Jake Harris seconded your nomination! Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
    “I don’t care if Jake—” I stopped. “Are you telling me the truth about Jake?”
    “Mia, you were right there. Didn’t you