Charming as a Verb

FATE Academy is the elite high school that Henri attends. FATE Academy symbolizes a progressive education, but it also represents strong competition and unrealistic expectations and dreams. FATE makes Henri a stronger student and benefits him in many ways, yet it is a source of conflict for him because within the FATE community, Henri is constantly struggling to prove himself.

At FATE, Henri is a scholarship student and one of the few Black students. He works hard to prove that he belongs at FATE based on his merit as a scholar. FATE Academy also promises their students that hard work will make their dreams come true. Henri, who is both an outsider and an insider at FATE, knows this is not true because he sees how his wealthier peers sometimes use their privilege in place of hard work. FATE is a microcosm of the larger American society that places high expectations on teenagers, propels the myths of the American Dream, and promotes a false sense of security regarding young people’s futures. It is both an important learning community for Henri and a stressful environment.