Nina Flies Away

Question

Marie Devers

Nina always aspired to enroll in a major college like the kids she saw on television who traipsed around urban universities, but she’d never set foot on an authentic college campus. She grew up in a remote Alaskan village that couldn’t be accessed by vehicle, and she thought this lifestyle might damage her chances of being accepted into a top school. On the contrary, most colleges found Nina’s biography intriguing, and she actually got into every school to which she applied!

Nina was surprised. She had never pondered all of the unique things in her life that had prepared her for college—not until she wrote her college admissions essay. In her prose, she described how her experiences had strengthened her spirit. Helping my cousin clean salmon for a communal stew, she had written, taught me that each person and animal plays an important role in the success of a village.

Nina’s fascinating life did not seem so charming while she had been living it, but now that it was all in the rear-view, she saw her past in all its splendor.

She had joyfully imagined moving into a dorm, and the dream had always begun with Nina unpacking her clothes and putting them away in a huge closet. She had never considered the fact that she would have to sift through childhood memories as she packed her bedroom; she’d never moved before! Packing her belongings had been difficult.

Nina’s mother asked a million times if this was the correct decision. Because Nina’s father was an elder, many children looked up to Nina. Nina’s mother told her that she must do a good job because the younger children might follow in her footsteps. Nina knew that her mom was petrified, but she also knew that overall, her mom wanted her to achieve success. She could not wait to earn her degree so that she could come back and teach in the village school or help the elders preserve the old-fashioned way of life for the next generation of children.

Nina’s grandma emerged from her bedroom and gave Nina a satchel that she had sewn from scrap fabrics—the leftover material from when she made Nina’s quilt and curtains. Inside the bag, she had packed salmon jerky and three bottles of Nina’s favorite berry jam. Nina’s grandma whispered a few Athabascan words and pulled Nina close before going to round up Nina’s younger brothers. They were dancing on the beach because each could have his own room now.

Nina’s uncle waited in his floatplane as her father stowed her bags into the back. Once Nina’s father was finished, Nina climbed into the plane and sighed. Her uncle was taking her to Fairbanks, where she’d board a commercial airplane and fly to Anchorage. All in all, she would probably spend the next 10 hours on planes and in airports. As her uncle lifted them off the ground, Nina felt the plane detach from the water, but she knew she was leaving behind more than mere earth. She was leaving everything she knew. She was closing one book on her past, and she was beginning a fresh story—her future.
Question
Which sentence from the passage proves to the reader Nina is having to adjust to a new place as she is about to begin college?
Responses
A “She grew up in a remote Alaskan village that couldn’t be accessed by vehicle, and she thought this lifestyle might damage her chances of being accepted into a top school” (paragraph 1).“She grew up in a remote Alaskan village that couldn’t be accessed by vehicle, and she thought this lifestyle might damage her chances of being accepted into a top school” (paragraph 1).
B “Nina knew that her mom was petrified, but she also knew that overall, her mom wanted her to achieve success” (paragraph 5). “Nina knew that her mom was petrified, but she also knew that overall, her mom wanted her to achieve success” (paragraph 5).
C “As her uncle lifted them off the ground, Nina felt the plane detach from the water, but she knew she was leaving behind more than mere earth” (paragraph 7). “As her uncle lifted them off the ground, Nina felt the plane detach from the water, but she knew she was leaving behind more than mere earth” (paragraph 7).
D “She had never pondered all of the unique things in her life that had prepared her for college—not until she wrote her college admissions essay” (paragraph 4).

Answer 1

The sentence that proves Nina is having to adjust to a new place as she is about to begin college is:

C. "As her uncle lifted them off the ground, Nina felt the plane detach from the water, but she knew she was leaving behind more than mere earth" (paragraph 7).

This sentence indicates that Nina is physically leaving her familiar surroundings and implies a sense of emotional transition and adjustment to a new life and environment as she embarks on her journey to college.