Title: The Weight of Expectations

- Group Members: Omar Casas, Daniel Basulto, Juan Aguilar, Carlos

Julian, & Andrew Barajas

---

Characters:

- Alex: A high school student, 15, intelligent but overwhelmed, quiet

and introverted.
- Ms. Parker: Alex’s English teacher, kind and insightful.
- Dylan: Alex’s classmate, a smooth-talker and bad influence.
- Principal Hart: Strict and focused on metrics.
- Mom: Alex’s single mother, well-meaning but overworked.

---

Scene 1: Classroom

(The bell rings. Students are chatting. Ms. Parker is handing out yet
another stack of test papers.)

MS. PARKER:
(sighs) Alright, class, here are your tests from last week. I know
there’s been a lot, but hang in there, okay?

(She hands Alex his paper. He stares at the grade, disappointed.)

ALEX:
(whispering to himself) Another C? I studied all night…

DYLAN:
(leans over) Yo, Alex, it’s just a test, man. Forget about it. You
want to hit up the skate park after school?

ALEX:
I don’t know, man. I’ve got so much work to do. Ms. Parker’s going to
give us a bunch of work tonight. And if I don’t bring my grade up…
 DYLAN:
Who cares? It’s just another dumb test. You know they’re pointless,
right? You’re never gonna need half this stuff in real life. Trust me.

(Alex sighs, staring at the paper in his hands, unsure if Dylan’s

right or wrong.)

---

Scene 2: Principal’s Office

(Alex’s mom, tired and frustrated, sits across from Principal Hart.
Alex slouches in a chair beside her.)

PRINCIPAL HART:
(sternly) Alex’s performance has been slipping across the board. Test
scores have dropped in math, science, English…

MOM:
(worried) He’s been working so hard… but his scores just keep getting
worse. I don’t understand.

PRINCIPAL HART:
Well as you know, we’re preparing for state exams. There’s no room for
error. If he doesn’t pass, he risks having to repeat the grade.

ALEX:
(to himself) Great. More pressure.

PRINCIPAL HART:
(noticing Alex) And Alex, you might want to rethink the people you’re
spending time with. Students like Dylan aren’t exactly shining
examples. You know what’s at stake.

(Alex looks down, feeling trapped and defeated.)

---
 Scene 3: Alex’s Bedroom

(Alex is at his desk, textbooks and crumpled notes scattered

everywhere. His mom enters, clearly concerned.)

MOM:
(gently) Honey, I know it’s tough. But maybe if you just push a little
harder, you can catch up. Maybe even get into the honor roll.

ALEX:
(exasperated) Mom, it’s not just about pushing harder! It’s… it’s
everything. I can’t focus with all these tests, and all the teachers
care about is numbers! No one even asks if I’m okay.

MOM:
(sighs) I know, sweetie. I wish I could help more. (pauses) Is it the
people you’re hanging out with? Is that the problem?

ALEX:
(hesitant) I mean… Dylan’s not perfect, but it’s not just him. It’s
the school! The teachers only care about scores, not whether we’re
actually learning. It’s like… like no one cares if I’m drowning. They
just keep adding more.

MOM:
(sighs deeply) I’ll talk to the school, see if there’s something they
can do to ease up. I don’t want you to lose yourself over this.

---

Scene 4: School Hallway

(Alex is at his locker, looking defeated. Dylan approaches, cool and

unconcerned.)

DYLAN:
Hey, man. Are you good?
 ALEX:
Not really. My mom wants me to get my grades up, but it’s like…
impossible. There’s too much. I don’t even care anymore.

DYLAN:
(shrugs) School’s a joke. Just do enough to get by. You want to come
chill? Just skip last period.

ALEX:
(hesitates, then sighs) I don’t know, man…

(Dylan claps him on the shoulder.)

DYLAN:
You’ve gotta stop letting this stuff get to you. Life’s too short.
Besides, grades don’t define you, right?

(Alex nods, clearly torn. He’s searching for relief, but he’s also
aware that skipping won’t help him either.)*

---

Scene 5: Ms. Parker’s Classroom, After School

(Alex lingers after class. Ms. Parker notices and approaches him with
a gentle smile.)

MS. PARKER:
Alex, is everything alright? You’ve been looking… worn out lately.

ALEX:
(sighs) I don’t know, Ms. Parker. It’s just… all these tests. The
pressure. My grades. My mom. Everyone wants me to be something I’m not
even sure I can be.
 MS. PARKER:
(sighs) Believe it or not, I get it. The testing has taken over, and
sometimes I wish there was a better way. You’re a bright student,
Alex. Your grades might not show it, but I see it.

ALEX:
(feeling validated) Really? I thought teachers just… cared about the
scores.

MS. PARKER:
(shakes her head) Some do. But not all of us. You’re more than a
grade, Alex. Sometimes the system gets so wrapped up in results that
it forgets the real purpose of education. If you need to talk, you
know where to find me.

(Alex smiles, a bit of hope shining through.)

---

Scene 6: Hallway - Day of Final Exams

(Alex stands outside the classroom door, staring at it nervously.

Dylan walks by, pausing to see Alex’s expression.)

DYLAN:
Dude, just don’t go in. It’s one test. It doesn’t matter.

ALEX:
(deep breath) No, I think… I think it does. Not for the grade. I just…
I don’t want to keep running. I want to actually try.

DYLAN:
(rolls his eyes) Suit yourself. Good luck, though. (He saunters off.)

(Alex watches him go, feeling a mixture of regret and determination.

He heads into the classroom, resolved.)
 ---

Scene 7: Principal’s Office (After Exams)

(Principal Hart sits with Alex and his mom. Ms. Parker is also
present, a supportive figure.)

PRINCIPAL HART:
(looking over a folder) Well, I have some good news. Alex’s test
scores have improved significantly. He passed.

MOM:
(relieved) Thank goodness!

MS. PARKER:
(smiling) I knew you could do it, Alex.

ALEX:
(smiling, but reflective) It wasn’t just about passing. I think… I
think I just needed to know that someone actually cared.

PRINCIPAL HART:
(clears his throat) Alex, we are always here to support our students.
And, going forward we can consider revisiting some of our testing
policies.

(Alex has a newfound sense of confidence and motivation. He may feel

that he is not heard, but he can always speak up.)

---

END