Elevator Conversation

Prompt: You're in an elevator with the admissions director of your first choice college, and you have five minutes to "sell your brand" to them.

I slipped into the elevator at the last second, barely escaping the clutches of the screeching metal doors. The sound of generic music filled my ears as I reached around and pushed the number for my floor. Honestly, I've never liked elevators... why did the ride up have to be so long?

Turning, I couldn't help but notice that only one other person occupied the elevator. He didn't look too scary... brown hair, kind of old-ish, if you get what I mean, and dressed so formally. I was wearing jeans and a tank-top! Awkward silence sat heavy in the elevator. I could almost swear he was purposefully not looking at me, but then, I was staring at him. And then I noticed... was that...? No... There was no way that the admissions director from my first choice college could be standing in the same elevator as me!

Naturally, this is the point where I freak out.

But you have to say something... say something, don't just stand there like an idiot staring!

"Uh... hello..." Just great, way to sound intelligent. "I couldn't help but notice that you're, um, from [insert currently unknown college here please]. Actually, I was thinking of going there myself."

He was staring at me... I hate being stared at, especially when I'm dressed so poorly and have my hair caught up in a messy bun instead of down and brushed properly. I hadn't expected to meet someone so important! If that wasn't bad enough, I think that one of the most annoyingly awkward things in the world is to be stared at by someone you've never met before. Looking straight back almost made my eyes water, but... C'mon... why the heck would he want you at his college if you can't even talk coherently in an elevator?

Honestly... I don't like talking, but this was my chance... my opportunity...

"I'm really excited, too, you know. I've been working especially hard this last year of high school so I can get into a really good college. Well, I've been working really hard for years, really. I can be very competitve, but I really, really love learning new things. You could say I'm ambitious, but I prefer to think of it as being determined to get the best education I can possibly manage. I'm determined to do my very best, stretch my limits and learn to counter my weaknesses, you could say."

I was kind of worried that I was being too forward. I don't normally randomly burst into conversation with strangers, after all, but at least he wasn't scooting away from me or anything. His staring was... unnerving, though. I gulped, searching my scattered thoughts for more things I could add and trying to think of ways to make it sound less like bragging and more like stating facts.

"So you've been thinking about my college," he said. He smiled; I couldn't tell if it was forced. I hoped I hadn't made too horrible of an impression. "What can you specifically offer my college?"

I stood up straight, trying not to wince. "I'm my own person--creative and determined to do the very best with the grades to prove it. I'm not afraid to step out of my boundaries and I'm not afraid to work hard and encourage others to do the same. I'm one of the top of my class and have high grades in all my subjects as well. I'll do my best no matter what college I get into!"

I couldn't tell what he thought of my spiel. I've never been good at reading people, not really. Nevertheless, I couldn't manage to squeeze in anything else before the elevator dinged softly and that nauseating feel of the floor almost dropping out from beneath my feet as I kept moving when it stopped left my stomach turning even more than it had already been with sheer nervousness. Hopefully my first impression wasn't too horrible...

He gave me one last look. "This is my floor, miss," he said almost apologetically and held out a hand, "It was nice meeting you..."

"Claire," I said quickly, trying to give a firm handshake even though my palm felt slick and gross from nervous sweating. "It was nice meeting you, too." And nerve-wracking.

"Good luck." And then he was gone. Silently, I watched him disappear as the doors closed and the metal box began moving again. Slowly, the nervousness dissipated, replaced with slight relief at having been left alone to my own thoughts. Oh God, what was that... I blabbed my mouth off!

"What is wrong with me...?" I asked.

But then, I thought, it could have been worse... at least I didn't fall on my face or anything.

I tripped getting off on my floor, though...

Note: I have no idea how realistic this is. (*goes to hide in a corner* It was horrible!) Hopefully I didn't do too poor of a job with my scenario. I hope that I never meet the admissions director of my chosen college in person; I'm not sure my fried nerves could handle it.