Original subtitles

So, what's this meeting for exactly?

The choices you make in grade eleven

can impact the rest of your life.

No pressure.

Well, this is when doors begin to close.

Holly J: Not on me.

I maintain a 93 average with a part time job,

student council president duties,

and volunteer work at Free The Children.

And what courses are you considering?

Calculus, physics.

Prerequisites for electrical engineering.

-Why engineering? -Uh, it's stable.

Runs in the family.

But, I'd also really like to take the music masterclass.

Hm.

Well, it looks like it conflicts with physics next term,

so it's one or the other.

Did you just say I'm failing?!

If you don't pull up your English grade,

-you'll have to repeat it. -I'm already a year behind.

Well, perhaps modeling is getting in the way

of your academic future.

It's not getting in the way.

It helped me get onto the Spirit Squad.

Save up for university, uh, support my child.

I understand. But there are options

that might allow you to work less,

and focus more on school.

You know what? Thank you for your concern,

but I can handle both.

I have to.

♪♪

♪ Whatever it takes ♪

♪ I know I can make it through ♪

♪ If I hold out ♪

♪ I know I can make it through ♪

♪ Yeah! ♪

♪ Oh! Oh! Oh! ♪

♪ Be the best ♪

♪ The best that I can be ♪

♪ Whatever it takes ♪

♪ I know I can make it ♪

♪ I can make it ♪

♪ I can make it through ♪

♪ Whatever it takes ♪

♪ I know I can make it through ♪

I can't look. I don't wanna know.

(Sighs)

Don't worry. I messed up, too.

What can I do to improve my grade?

I've given you extensions and second chances

on every assignment.

If I fail, I'm gonna have to redo the whole term, Ms. Kwan.

Please.

Okay.

I'll count your public speech for 60% of your grade.

Thank you.

(School bell rings)

Reminder, topic for public speaking

is, "Where you see yourself in five years and why".

Last assignment for the term, class.

Impress me.

You should do a runway walk instead.

Wind in the hair! (Giggles)

Study sesh tonight?

Definitely. Unless...

Oh, shoot! I have to work.

Tell me you've finished your speech.

Oh, yeah. Just working on my conclusion.

(Sighs)

It makes me feel lonely.

Blue, I bestow you with an "A".

-Good job! -Thank you.

Watch me make mamma proud.

All right, Holly J. Talk to us.

Well, it took me eight hours.

The proportions are flawless.

Okay. Um...

Blue, thoughts?

Blue: Um, I appreciate the realism.

But what's the emotional perspective?

(Scoffs) It's fruit. Doesn't have feelings.

The assignment was to interpret the fruit bowl

through an emotion. Not just copy it.

But I'm gonna be generous, and I'm gonna give you a "C".

Ms. Dawes?

(Huffs) I worked really hard on this.

I don't doubt that for a second.

Well, then, grade me appropriately.

I couldn't have done a better job.

You failed to grasp the point of the assignment.

But in recognition of your hard work,

um, you can try it again.

Why? I did it right the first time.

No. No, you didn't.

See, there's no... There's no emotion in this.

Well, that's your opinion.

(Studz playing rock song)

♪ My friends are gone ♪

♪ The city sleeps ♪

♪ I'm all alone my computer beeps ♪

♪ They cause me to ♪

♪ Google my own name Google my own name ♪

♪ Some dude in Indiana ♪

♪ Google my own name ♪

♪ Google my own name Google my own name ♪

Yeah!

Sweet harmony, you guys.

Yeah, guys.

Could you imagine doing this every day,

like, forever?

Why couldn't you?

Well, it's not really part of my plan.

Oh, right, the plan.

Engineering, Infiniti sedan,

marrying Anya, three kids...

Conceived to Josh Groban's "Best Of..."

(Peter laughs)

I can still play on the weekends.

But can't take music with you next term.

Conflicts with physics.

Danny: Take physics next year!

Masterclass is only offered next term.

Once in a lifetime, man.

Then I can't take engineering in university.

It's time to start thinking long-term.

Music's gotta take a back-seat.

Oh, yeah, 17 years old.

Time to give up on your dreams.

(Chuckles)

-Principal Sheppard! -Yeah?

Which do you like better?

Oh... This one, obviously.

Exactly! That's what I said. But Ms. Dawes-

Wait. Ms. Dawes?

She gave me a "C" and Death Star, here, an "A."

Okay then. Clearly, Death Star is better.

-But you just said- -Teachers rule the classroom.

(Snaps fingers) Phoo!

(Upbeat music plays)

My kid is gonna hate me. We're three hours behind.

-What? No, we can't be! -Mm.

I'm not getting any work done. I'm totally failing in life.

If you were my kid, you'd be at home studying.

(Sighs) I tried to cancel. My agent said it was too late.

Mm, don't stress. When is it due?

Tomorrow morning.

I'll leave you to it, then.

(School bell rings)

(Strumming mandolin)

Hey. Hey, Mr. Fowler.

Hey. Here to audition?

Well, no.

I gotta take physics next term.

Well, do you play?

Yeah.

But I got prerequisites for electrical engineering.

Rock star's not gonna pay the bills.

Okay, not a rock star. What about a record producer?

Audio engineer?

Composer?

Those jobs are all too impossible to get.

That's not true.

I mean, not everything you take right now

needs to be about a career.

Experiment a little. Trial and error.

(Plays mandolin)

You just tuned that, by ear,

in less than a minute.

Um...

Uh, thanks for your time, sir, but...

I gotta go.

I'm here.

If you want to audition, I'm here.

Thanks again.

Ms. Kwan: Welcome to the podium.

You're late, Ms. Jones.

Who'd like to go first?

My top choices are science and poly-sci at McGill.

People always wonder if it's my parents

who pushed me to accomplish as much as I do.

But, it comes from me.

Anything you throw at me...

Anya ...That, for the rest of my life,

I wanted to save animals.

So, I would like to be a veterinarian.

Statistically, it's more difficult to get into vet school

than regular med school, which makes sense,

because vets treat more than just one species.

Sav: ...Structures and machines we interact with every day.

While scientists discover the world,

engineers create it.

I look forward to a rewarding career,

bringing innovative ideas into fruition.

(Applause)

Thank you, Savtaj.

Mia. You're next.

Ms. Kwan, fellow classmates.

I am here today to talk to you

about where I see myself in five years and why.

Marine biologist... (Nervous chuckle)

...is what I want to be.

"Why?" You may ask.

Because...

I've always loved dolphins?

(Laughter)

She's gotta be kidding.

(Laughter)

This has cost you your term!

You need to re-evaluate your priorities.

You don't know me! Don't tell me about my priorities.

(Piano plays light ballet music)

Anna: How was your day at school?

-Mia: Actually... -Isabella: Mommy!

Mia: Baby!

Hey munchkin!

Will you show mommy how to do a plie later?

Ms. Lydia says she should take three classes per week

if she wants to continue moving up.

So expensive.

Izzy loves it. So, she'll do it.

You know, I wasn't sure about this modeling thing at first.

But it's been such a blessing for us.

(Upbeat music plays)

I feel like such a failure.

How do you balance this with school?

(Chuckles softly) Dropped out in grade 10 after I got scouted.

Smartest thing I ever did.

Do you ever miss being a regular girl?

You mean stressing over exams

and scrounging for cash?

Guess not.

It's just so hard having a foot in both worlds.

The way I see it, school will always be there.

Girls like us need to cash in while we can.

This is our prime.

♪ And it's all you ever wanted ♪

♪ And it's all you ever wanted ♪

Woman over PA: Attention, students.

Would Derek Haig please report to the front office.

Derek Haig to the office.

Anything else I need to do?

No, I'll inform your teachers and principal Sheppard.

Again, are you sure?

Yeah.

Leaving school is the best thing for me right now.

Okay, well...

Don't forget to clean out your locker before you go.

Right. Uh, my locker.

(Sighs)

Peter: Mia! Wait!

I heard.

You're making a big mistake.

Of course you would say that, your mom's a principal.

-That's not fair. -Why?

Because you get everything handed to you,

and I have to choose?

This isn't about money. You're giving up.

Are you leaving because of what happened with us?

Because of me?

(Scoffs) Get over yourself.

She wanted abstract, I'm giving her abstract.

Good luck.

Ms. Dawes!

I re-did the assignment.

Interesting.

What's behind it?

It's a natural growth out of a need.

Your need for an "A?"

I'm familiar with Pollock, Holly J.

You copied this. I'm sorry, your mark remains the same.

You can't punish a student

for producing something out of a text book.

This is school.

Art isn't geography or science.

It needs to come from within.

It does!

I work hard! Every day!

Do you have any idea what you're doing to me?

Maybe...

Maybe you're just not meant for this.

(Scoffs) Solid approach.

Telling students they can't do it,

when you're some...

failed artist who resorted to teaching,

because no one would buy your work?

If you can't do, teach. Right?

I think you should excuse yourself.

Gladly.

(Classical jazz plays)

Uh, dad.

I don't know if I wanna be an engineer.

That surprises me.

You've always said this is what you wanted.

Ye-yeah, because I felt pressured to.

But I think I wanna do something with music.

This is a hobby, Sav.

I didn't quit school to pursue the accordion.

As much as I loved it.

Dad, I'm being serious.

As am I.

How can you raise a family on a musician's salary?

I do not want my son to starve.

I won't starve.

You always say you and mom came here

so we could have the best.

The best is seeing you and your sister happy.

Secure.

Successful.

You need to think realistically about the future.

(Sloppy trumpet playing)

(Grunts)

Uh, s-sorry. I'm a little nervous.

Take your time.

(Plays trumpet smoothly)

It's always been simple.

Work hard, get good grades.

I don't know how to do this.

There's no right or wrong answer, all right?

Just try.

I don't even know where to start.

How're you feeling right now?

(Chuckles softly) Like a disaster.

Go with that.

Why would you do this?

I'm already a teen mom statistic,

I thought I'd contribute to the dropout rate.

It's not a joke.

Is this what you would want for your own daughter?

Every day, at school,

I feel like I'm not good enough.

And I wanna support you and Izzy.

You don't ever need to worry about supporting this family.

We did just fine before modeling.

Your education comes first.

This is my decision.

Okay? I don't wanna go back.

(Heavy sigh)

Remember what you wanted to be when you were little?

-Mom... -You wanted to be everything.

Baker, judge,

fire-fighter, prime Minister,

vampire slayer!

I can't help but wonder what happened to that girl.

She grew up.

You're not thinking long term.

I am.

I'm being realistic.

Then, after modeling, if it doesn't last...

what will you do?

(Children laughing)

It's okay not to know.

You just have to make sure you have the tools

to figure it out.

(Sniffles)

Hey.

Why are you crying, mommy? Do you have a boo-boo?

No. I just love you so much.

And remember, in five years,

when turn on etalk,

or pick up a copy of "Us Weekly,"

look for my name, because my future

will be all about reporting all those juicy details.

(Applause)

Kwan: Congratulations, class.

You have made it through grade eleven English.

(Cheering and applause)

I was wondering if I could join you guys.

I have a speech I'd like to share.

You're not allowed to be here.

I've re-registered. Ms. Sauve gave me a note.

Well, that's nice.

But that doesn't mean you get another shot

at giving your speech.

That wouldn't be fair to your classmates.

Please.

You can give your speech if they're okay with it.

Of course we are.

Yeah, let's hear it.

Better be good, Ms. Jones.

(Sighs)

I, um...

don't really know where I see myself in five years.

And I think that's okay.

My plan for now is, keep my options open.

Take French and history.

Aim for general arts.

But within this plan, I hope and expect to be surprised.

When I was 12, I had this...

perfect future all mapped out.

...Orchestra and then a required industry co-op

with a symphony or even a record label.

And I know I have to be rational,

but, I wanna start doing things that interest me.

I do not want you to limit your future.

You are a bright young man.

Nothing is set in stone. If I wanna be an engineer,

I'll take physics later.

For right now, I'm pursuing my dream.

This does look like a fascinating course.

I just hope you're making the right choice.

Mia: ...Then life happened. I had a daughter at 13,

and suddenly, I didn't come first anymore.

I had to accept a reality

that was very different from the one I once imagined...

I'm sorry for the way I acted.

I tried again.

Maybe the old one's better...

Ms. Dawes: No.

This is a Sinclair original.

This ugly thing is right?

Yes, because this is your interpretation.

An expression.

But it's still not very good, is it?

Listen, I love to sing in the shower.

Doesn't mean I'll sell out Carnegie Hall anytime soon.

So, will I see you in art next term?

Don't think so.

But I'll consider art appreciation.

Mia: The unexpected...

-can be terrifying. -Thanks.

But I encourage each of you to embrace it.

-You're welcome. -Mia: Because sometimes,

it's the things you don't anticipate

that make the biggest impact.

You convinced your parents! How?

Mia: So, it's the journey, right? Not the destination.

And high school, I've decided, is an important

part of my journey.

Sauve:Exam week is gonna be a lot of hard work.

Math finals to ace,

English make-up assignments.

-I know. -And what about modeling?

Still doing it.

But only during holidays and in the summer.

Well, coming back takes a lot of courage.

You should give yourself a pat on the back.

Maybe after exams.

Your official welcome back,

already posted on the anti-grapevine.

Oh, we missed you so much!

(Chuckles) Anya, I was only gone a day!

Lucky I let you back in, Mamma Mia.

With great responsibility comes great power.

Um, I know my Spidey quotes,

and I think that's the other way around.

Whatever. No one's perfect.

Study sesh at the Dot?

We've got exam week to get through.

Let's do it.

♪♪