He clicks— praying, refreshing, repeat— until the screen freezes.

Confetti explodes. Champagne pops. Angels sing.

He pumps his fists and hurls his transcripts into the air, luxuriating in dopamine like golden liquid drizzling over crystal glasses.

The party streamers dissipate, revealing the holy message:

Congratulations! Welcome to the class of…

Elina Tsai is a 15-year-old-writer and a two-time Gold Key award-winner of the Scholastic Writing Contest. A student of advanced writing and literature workshops at the Morning Star Institute and a member of the Chinese Dance Company of Southern California, her pieces combine postmodern techniques and authentic community experiences to share the beauty of simple lifestyles.