As an ordinary genius

The day had finally come. Ethan stood at the edge of his bed, clutching an envelope that carried the weight of his future. The letters "Massachusetts Institute of Technology" were printed boldly on the front, taunting him with both possibility and fear.

"You gonna open it, or are you just gonna stare at it all day?" Clara asked, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk.

"I don't know," Ethan said, his voice trembling. "What if it's a rejection? What if I didn't make it?"

Clara rolled her eyes. "You're always so dramatic. Just rip it open!"

With a deep breath, Ethan slid his finger under the flap and pulled out the letter. His eyes darted across the page, scanning for the words that would decide his fate.

"Dear Ethan Grayson, we are pleased to inform you…"

"I got in," he whispered.

Clara blinked. "Wait, what?"

"I GOT IN!" Ethan shouted, jumping up and down.

Clara's face broke into a grin as she pulled him into a tight hug. "I knew you could do it, you nerd!"

Ethan's acceptance to MIT wasn't a miracle—it was the result of years of hard work and determination. He'd scraped through high school with decent grades, pushing himself just enough to meet the requirements. His test scores were solid, but not outstanding.

What set him apart was his application essay. In it, he'd written about his life at the orphanage, the projects he'd built with scraps, and how he saw engineering as a way to solve real-world problems.

"I might not be the smartest or the fastest," he wrote, "but I'm the kind of person who doesn't stop trying. And I think that matters."

Apparently, the admissions board agreed.

Ethan didn't keep the news to himself for long. He burst into the common room at the orphanage, waving the acceptance letter like a trophy.

"Everyone!" he called out. "I got in! I got into MIT!"

The kids, staff, and even Mrs. Delaney gathered around him, their faces lighting up with pride.

"MIT? That's amazing!" Clara said, punching him lightly on the arm.

"Does this mean you're going to be, like, a rocket scientist?" one of the younger kids asked, eyes wide with awe.

"Not exactly," Ethan said, laughing. "But maybe something close to it."

Mrs. Delaney stepped forward, her eyes glistening. "Ethan, we are so proud of you. You've come such a long way."

"Thanks, Mrs. D," Ethan said, his voice cracking slightly.

That evening, the orphanage threw a small celebration for Ethan. The dining hall was decorated with balloons and a hand-painted banner that read, "Congratulations, Ethan!"

Clara helped set up a makeshift stereo, blasting music while the kids danced around with paper hats. Tim, Ethan's old school friend, showed up with a stack of comic books as a farewell gift.

"You're gonna need something to read on the flight to Boston," Tim said, handing them over.

"Thanks, man," Ethan said, pulling him into a quick hug.

"Just don't forget about us when you're building flying cars or whatever," Tim teased.

"I could never forget you guys," Ethan replied, smiling.

Later that night, Ethan sat by the old oak tree in the orphanage yard, staring up at the stars. Clara joined him, holding two cups of hot chocolate.

"Big day tomorrow," she said, handing him one.

"Yeah," Ethan said, taking a sip. "Feels… surreal, you know? Like, I've dreamed about this for so long, and now it's actually happening."

"You earned it," Clara said firmly. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Ethan smiled. "Thanks, Clara. For everything. I wouldn't be here without you."

"Damn right," Clara said, smirking. "Now go make us proud."

The next morning, Ethan stood at the bus stop with his suitcase in hand, ready to catch the first ride to the airport. A small crowd from the orphanage had gathered to see him off, their faces filled with pride and a tinge of sadness.

"Don't forget to write!" Mrs. Delaney called out, waving a handkerchief.

"I won't!" Ethan shouted back, tears threatening to spill.

As the bus pulled away, he looked out the window, watching the faces of his family fade into the distance.

For the first time in his life, Ethan felt like he was stepping into something bigger than himself. The road ahead was uncertain, but he was ready to face it.