Candidate Weekend: Part I

(The following events begin on 26 February 2010)

I was sitting at my computer, nonchalantly going through my evening routine of checking Facebook, reading the news and swiftly glancing at my email. It was late, my mom and sister were both in bed. When I got into my Gmail account, I saw an email from NYU and my heart stopped momentarily. I quickly opened the email. I yelled. It was a response letting me know that I had been selected as a Candidate for the March Candidate weekend. Running upstairs, I woke my mother with the follow message: "I'm going to Abu Dhabi over spring break!" Not phased, she told me that would would take care of it in the morning. I spent the rest of the night researching New York University Abu Dhabi and why they were flying me out to the Middle East.

The next morning began at 6 o'clock. Very quickly we had all the appropriate documents signed and my passport photo taken. I was off to apply for my passport and fax the documents to NYC, where they required them post haste. The next few weeks were a hazy and furious cloud of emails and travel plans. My passport arrived with no time to spare and all flight arrangements were in place shortly thereafter.

The week I was supposed to leave was also the week when I was to hear back from MIT. At this point, MIT and NYU AD were approximately equal. MIT day was that Sunday and I left Wednesday. Sunday came and MIT said no. So fine, I still had Abu Dhabi as a possibility. Of course, I packed last minute as any responsible high school does. The next morning, I was sitting in a cubicle outside my dad's office waiting to leave for my flight. Begrudgingly and distractedly working on homework, I quickly found myself at the airport. My father and I worked our way into line in Terminal 2 for my first flight via United Airlines to Chicago, where I was to take a direct to Abu Dhabi.

There was a shocking number of people in line, and soon I received a voice-mail with no missed call. I hate it when that happens. The message was from the travel agency, my flight had been canceled. My father and I alternated calling ProTravel, desperately trying to find a flight that would get me to Chicago on time. The next flight was an hour later on American Airlines, but it was booked. The travel agency said "No problem." They gave us a info for a flight voucher that was actually later in the day, but would get me on the sooner flight. I was soon in possession of my voucher for a 6 o'clock flight to Chicago. At American, that voucher turned into a 1 one o'clock flight. Thanks to the miracle that is Priority Verification, I booted someone on an already over booked flight. Half an hour later, I was at the gate, waiting patiently.