"Michael and Mick Shmazian really want to go to Harvard. They decided on Harvard because they figured it would be a premium challenge for the both of them. They excel in sports and student activities, engage in Student Council and are all-around good guys looking toward the future – though they didn't know quite what to expect in regard to college and university programs until they'd spoken to their counselors.

While their grades are adequate, and they certainly have enough extracurricular student body activities to offer their applications to Harvard greater appeal, they both realize that they need to score very high on their SATs to have a shot at acceptance. They need to mine sources on how to prepare as well as excel on SAT testing, but they also need additional information.

Not only are they looking at resources to help them ace their SATs, but they're also looking for information that will help them to finance their illustrious goals. Their parents nearly had a heart attack when they both announced that they wanted to attend Harvard. Their Dad's chest puffed with pride while their mother secretly smiled. However, the pride and smile were shortly replaced with a startled glance between the two parents, as well as a dimming of their enthusiasm when they realized that their budget would in no way enable their sons to achieve such an endeavor.

How to encourage their sons to reach for the stars and yet put a damper on their enthusiasm by telling them that that there was no way that they could afford to put their sons through Harvard? Michael and Mick's mom figured she could wash cars and have bake sales tell the cows came home, while their dad wondered how many favors he could call in.

Needless to say, called in favors, carwashes and bake sales were not going to cut it. So, Michael and Mick put their heads together to find any and all avenues that might help them not only earn the money they were going to need, but the grades that would get them into their school of choice. This was no simple endeavor, because to put it bluntly, Michael and Mick weren't the most highly motivated students in their class.

While they tend to socialize most of the week and cram homework and reports in late at night or on weekends, the boys do know a little something about finding and gathering information and resources. Their friends are more than willing to help, because Michael and Mick are certainly fun to be around, and their friends would like to see them succeed. Of course, the real reason behind their feelings is that they want to prove to their teachers that Michael and Mick and their friends are certainly not a bunch of ""lackadaisical gamers"" wanting to squirrel their lives away with mediocre jobs in earning potentials.

Only time will tell if Michel and Mick Shmazian succeed in their endeavor, but as the saying goes, ""Getting there is half the fun."""

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Chris Christian writes short stories about everyday life struggles and ties them into popular topics.