This short film follows Desmond, a high school senior who awaits news from his first-choice university. Struggling to understand and accept an unexpected turn, Desmond navigates feelings of self-doubt, comparison, and uncertainty.
[Soft music and keyboard keys clicking]
[Words on screen] How Baldwin Changed American Literature
[Soft music and keyboard keys clicking]
[Words on screen] Jame Arthur Baldwin was a
[Soft music and keyboard keys clicking]
[Keyboard keys clicking, deleting words on screen]
[Book pages flipping]
[Book thudding and soft music continues]
[Keyboard keys clicking and Desmond sighing]
[Crowd cheering and video game bleeps with basketball bouncing]
[Video game sounds] Defense! - Hands off! Defense! Defense!
[Message bleeping)
[Words on screen] Boston University Admissions Dear Desmond, the admissions selectio...
[quiet music and heartbeat thumping]
[heartbeat thumping quickens]
[water hissing from faucet])
[Mom speaking] Dez, are you okay?
[Desmond speaking] Oh Mom, I'm okay, I promise.
[Mom speaking] Did you receive a notification from BC? They said eight o'clock, right?
[Desmond speaking] I haven't gotten anything yet.
[Mom speaking] Are you sure? They said…
{Desmond speaking] Ma, please. You're stressing me out.
[Mom speaking] Okay.
[soft music]
[Desmond exhaling]
[Words on screen] Regret email from Boston College
[Desmond exhaling]
[Phone buzzing]
[Words on screen] Shawn: Yo I got into BC, I’m an Eagle
[Words on screen] Shawn: Did you get in?
[Phone clunking, Desmond breathing deeply]
[Dad knocking]
[Dad speaking] Desmond, can we come in?
[Door squeaking]
[Dad speaking] Did you read BC's email?
[Mom speaking] Oh dear. Look, Desmond, I didn't get into Smith either, and it was my first choice, but I got into Emerson and it was the best experience of my life.
{Dad speaking] I know BC was your first choice of school, but there are plenty of other great colleges here. We're in Boston. This is a mecca of great colleges. And you're still waiting on another email, right?
[Desmond speaking] Probably won't get in anywhere else.
[Mom speaking] Honey, why would you say that?
[Desmond speaking] I have a low GPA. I'm barely good at sports.
[Mom speaking] Stop. Stop with the negative self-talk. You have to think positive, imagine positive.
[Desmond speaking] It's so easy to say but so hard to do.
[Mom speaking] Well... Try.
[Desmond speaking] Can I just have some space, please?
[Mom speaking] Of course.
[Dad speaking] Hey, it'll be all right, okay?
[Mom speaking] Dinner will be ready in a few. Have you finished your Baldwin paper?
[Desmond speaking] Yeah, I was just working on it.
[Mom speaking] Okay, come here. It's gonna be okay.
[Soft music and door squeaking]
[Hip hop music]
[Friend 1 speaking] Yo, I was so nervous. My mom was the one who finally opened up the email. We all screamed. Even the old white lady across the street called the cops on us.
[Friend 2 speaking] My nana just cried when she found out. I'm glad I could finally make her proud. Yo D, you got into BC, right?
[Desmond speaking] Yeah.
[Friend 1 speaking] How'd your mom and pops takes the news?
[Desmond speaking] They were happy.
[Friend 2 speaking] Just happy?
[Desmond speaking] I mean, they screamed and called everyone in my family, and we even went out to dinner to celebrate.
[Friend 1 speaking] Yo, four more months and we're outta here.
[Friend 2 speaking] High school's been mad long. I thought I would never survive this.
[Friend 1 speaking] Can't wait to go to college.
[Friend 2 speaking] Where do you wanna celebrate?
[Friend 1 speaking] Let's go to Whoopsie's.
[Friend 2 speaking] All right, Whoopsie's it is.
[Desmond speaking] Um, oh shoot, I forgot, I have to meet with Miss Abrada on my science project.
[Friend 1 speaking] But I thought we were gonna go hang out.
[Desmond speaking] Nah, duty calls. Catch y'all later.
- Yeah, I guess.
[Soft music and mom screaming]
[Dad screams via video on phone] Yeah!
[Friend 3 via video on phone] I just got into Bridgewater State. Go, Bears!
[Friend 4 via video on phone] Hey guys, I got into Pittsburg State. –
[Friend 5 via video on phone] Guess where I got in? We Berkeley bound, baby.
[Friend 6 via video on phone] I just got into Howard University. Go, Bison.
[Friend 7 via video on phone] It's BC, baby, yeah! BC! Yeah! Woo!
[Friend 7 via video on phone] It's BC, baby, yeah! BC! Yeah! Woo!
(soft music) (heartbeat thumping)
[Desmond thinking] It's BC, baby. Yeah! Bridgewater State. Pittsburg State. We Berkeley bound, baby. BC! Bridgewater State. Pittsburg State. We Berkeley bound, baby. Bridgewater State. Pittsburg State. We Berkeley bound, baby. BC! You got into BC, right?
[phone buzzing]
[Desmond thinking - voiceovers all speaking at once) Yeah! BC! We Berkeley bound, baby. I'm glad I could finally make her proud. I have a low GPA.
[Phone buzzing]
[Desmond thinking - voiceovers all speaking at once) BC! We Berkeley bound, baby. We Berkeley bound, baby.
[Phone buzzing]
[Friend 1 speaking] Yo, D, where you at?
[Desmond speaking] I'm home now. Miss Abrada canceled the meeting.
[Friend 2 speaking] Are you seriously in bed right now?
[Friend 1 speaking] Yo, come over here brother, this burger is smack.
[Desmond speaking] I'll see if I can join.
[Friend 1 speaking] Look, if you're not here in 15 minutes, I'm gonna go over there and smack you.
[Desmond speaking] All right, I'm coming.
[Friend 2 speaking] 15 minutes, dude.
[Desmond speaking] All right.
[Phone clicking]
[Desmond sighing and soft music]
[basketball bouncing and bouncing off the rim]
[Friend 1 speaking] What happened to you yesterday?
[Desmond speaking] I was too tired, man.
[Friend 1 speaking] Are you okay?
[Desmond speaking] I'm good, bro, no worries.
[Friend 1 speaking] Wait a minute. Did you even get into BC? You didn't, huh. I'm sorry.
[Desmond speaking] It's fine, I'm not even worried about it.
[Friend 1 speaking] You clearly you are. Look, remember towards the beginning of high school where I said I had tutoring every day after school?
[Desmond speaking] Yeah.
[Friend 1 speaking] I was in therapy for my panic attacks.
[Desmond speaking] What?
[Friend 1speaking] Couldn't have survived high school without it. I know this is tough for you, but should definitely try talking to someone.
[Desmond speaking] I don't know about that, bro.
[Friend 1 speaking] Try it, man. There's nothing to be ashamed about. And you'll get into a better school. You're smart, bro.
[Desmond speaking] Bet.
[Friend 1 speaking] Bet.
[inspirational music]