He came in, closing the door behind him, backpack slung under one shoulder. “Do you want something to eat sweety?” his mother asked. “Maybe later, but right now I’ve got to study”. He rushes into his room, slips off his backpack and sits at his desk. He starts reading the already open textbooks. As he is enthralled by the words on the page he doesn’t realize the clock hands moving, one hour, two hours, three hours. His brothers come in, “Do you want to come play outside?”. “Let me just finish this chapter”. Another two hours pass followed by a rushed dinner at his grandma’s house up the road, then it's time for bed. He slips on his pyjamas, hangs his North Sydney Technical School Uniform on his closet ready for the next day and goes to bed.
He tries to sleep but too many thoughts are swirling around in his head: have I studied enough for math? Did I have any other homework? How did I go on my science test? He knows he needs his rest for the next day to do his best in school and keep up his reputation in class but he can't sleep. He tries emptying his mind, thinking of nothing, 10 minutes later, he gets out of bed. After getting a quick drink from the kitchen he heads back to his desk. There, reading his textbooks by the light of his desk top lamp, is Brian Young, the first of his family to go to college and the reason I am where I am today.
North Sydney Technical School was an all-boys, selective high school located in North Sydney, Australia. It was very exclusive and only extremely bright students were accepted. ("North")