1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:14,560 Welcome to Students Incorporated, a podcast exploring the topics of business, education, 2 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:16,160 technology and design. 3 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:17,600 I'm your host, Mr. Jason. 4 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:23,960 Join me weekly as my team and I produce content that's informative, positive, fun and uplifting. 5 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:28,440 Episodes include student conversations, interviews with thought leaders and inspirational stories 6 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:29,800 with an international flavor. 7 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:34,000 This podcast is created and produced with the help of students from the International 8 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:38,680 Community School of Bangkok. 9 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,040 Hello and welcome back to Students Incorporated. 10 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:43,640 I'm Mr. Jason and I'll be your host today. 11 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,120 This episode happens to be our 55th episode. 12 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:52,600 Each season, my team and I produce 32 episodes, which means we are well over halfway through 13 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:54,080 our second season. 14 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:57,640 I want to thank all of our loyal listeners out there for sticking with us. 15 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:02,320 Also, if you are a newcomer to our podcast, we hope you stick around and give us a try. 16 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:04,440 I think you'll find something of interest. 17 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:08,760 Today I'm joined by our season two team again and we've decided to do something a little 18 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,720 special for the remaining 10 episodes of season two. 19 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:16,560 Before we get into our first segment of this episode, let's hear our quote of the day 20 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:18,160 and get some headline news. 21 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,480 Hey everyone, Rebecca here again. 22 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,320 Our quote of the day comes from Seth Godin. 23 00:01:23,320 --> 00:01:28,320 His quoted have saying, marketing is no longer about the stuff that you make, but about the 24 00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:29,880 stories you tell. 25 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:34,360 In today's world, consumers are no longer just interested in the product itself, but 26 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,580 in the emotions and experiences associated with it. 27 00:01:37,580 --> 00:01:42,280 This shift in focus has led to the rise of storytelling as a powerful marketing tool. 28 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:47,180 By crafting compelling narratives around their products, brands can create deeper connections 29 00:01:47,180 --> 00:01:49,500 with their audience and drive sales. 30 00:01:49,500 --> 00:01:54,280 This quote highlights the importance of starting modern marketing strategies, emphasizing the 31 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:58,200 need for brands to engage consumers on an emotional level. 32 00:01:58,200 --> 00:01:59,840 And that's our quote of the day. 33 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:01,480 Hi again, Chania here. 34 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,300 Here are some headline news from around the world. 35 00:02:04,300 --> 00:02:08,120 Our first news piece comes out of Norman, Oklahoma. 36 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:13,500 World Literature Today, an award-winning magazine produced by the University of Oklahoma that 37 00:02:13,500 --> 00:02:19,960 highlights international literature and culture, recently announced the 28th Laureate of the 38 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,960 New Staunt International Prize for Literature. 39 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:28,640 Laureate is a person who has been honored for achieving distinction in a particular field. 40 00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:30,880 This honor went to Ananda Devi. 41 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:35,520 She is from a small island east of Africa named Mauritius. 42 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:41,160 Ananda has become a major voice of the francophone world and has written 25 books. 43 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:46,960 Her work has been translated into over a dozen languages and has been recognized in France 44 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:47,960 as well. 45 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:52,960 Moving on to our next news item, we head over to Dublin, Ireland. 46 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:58,520 In only a few weeks, on the 26th of March, the Dublin Literary Award Shortlist will be 47 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:04,640 publicly revealed, showing which of the 70 books were considered as top choices. 48 00:03:04,640 --> 00:03:10,760 With such high stakes, such as a 100,000 euro prize for the winner, there is bound to be 49 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:16,640 an air of tension, especially with the wide array of books being nominated from 35 different 50 00:03:16,640 --> 00:03:17,640 countries. 51 00:03:17,640 --> 00:03:22,040 Fortunately for the public, these books are available for the public to borrow and read 52 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:28,000 from all libraries in the city of Dublin and around Ireland, so readers can formulate their 53 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:29,660 own book rankings. 54 00:03:29,660 --> 00:03:33,700 Our last news comes from the great region of Scandinavia. 55 00:03:33,700 --> 00:03:40,560 With a reward of over 300,000 Danish krone and the Nordilies statuette, the annual Nordic 56 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:47,400 Council's Literature Prize has revealed its list of nominees for the 2024 chapter, with 57 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:51,400 13 nominations from five different Nordic countries. 58 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:56,600 Each year's winning piece of literature has reflected the time we live in and serve as 59 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:02,600 cultural proponents that help to raise interest in Nordic culture and has also been considered 60 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,440 outstanding in its environmental and artistic efforts. 61 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:11,200 The unveiling of the winners will take place in autumn, where the awards ceremony will 62 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:17,340 be held in conjunction with the Nordic Council session in Reykjavik, Iceland. 63 00:04:17,340 --> 00:04:21,760 We are back for our first segment of this episode and I welcome our entire season two 64 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:23,600 team back to the studio. 65 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:27,160 The last time we were all together in the studio for a recording, we were working on 66 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,600 an episode 52 titled, How to Make a Podcast. 67 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:34,520 Yeah, and quick side note, if you haven't already listened to that one, be sure to go 68 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:36,720 back and listen to that one. 69 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,320 It's really fun to be back together again, especially with Chania and Yen Hao on the 70 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,400 show, getting to hear more voices on the podcast. 71 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:45,840 Super excited for this one as well, it's going to be great. 72 00:04:45,840 --> 00:04:50,280 We received some positive feedback from the listeners on that particular How to Formatted 73 00:04:50,280 --> 00:04:53,960 episode, so thank you to our listeners for that feedback. 74 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:58,040 It's a big encouragement to us when we hear back from you, especially if you really like 75 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,940 a specific topic or episode format. 76 00:05:00,940 --> 00:05:05,680 But now Chania is going to start us off by explaining what we're going to be doing for 77 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:08,640 our final 10 episodes of season two. 78 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:11,600 Thank you and I'm really excited about this idea. 79 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:16,720 Since the beginning of time, stories have been a main source of communicating ideas, 80 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,200 concepts, truths, and principles. 81 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:24,680 Stories teach us about history and the people that have come before us. 82 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,040 Stories can inspire or depress us. 83 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:28,860 Stories can be fictional. 84 00:05:28,860 --> 00:05:31,360 Stories can be true or a mixture of both. 85 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,520 One thing is certain, there is power in the story. 86 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:39,600 So starting with this episode, we will be telling you, our listeners, a story. 87 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:44,580 This story will begin in segment two of this episode and will continue through all remaining 88 00:05:44,580 --> 00:05:49,040 episodes of this season, 10 episodes to be exact. 89 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:55,440 This story happens to be fictional, however, some elements, towns, locations, or historical 90 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:58,160 events may have some truth to them. 91 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:03,080 But before we cut to our PSA and then begin part one of our story, we'd like to talk 92 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:09,080 a little bit about the importance of storytelling in the context of marketing and business. 93 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:13,200 Rebecca, could you explain the importance of storytelling? 94 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:19,280 Of course, storytelling has been a fundamental part of human culture for centuries. 95 00:06:19,280 --> 00:06:24,200 Storytelling involves the craft of using words, images, or other forms of communication to 96 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,760 convey a narrative or message to an audience. 97 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:32,560 In the context of business or marketing, some of the most successful marketing campaigns 98 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:34,240 involve storytelling. 99 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:38,320 Clever businesses tell stories that connect with their customers. 100 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:43,080 And if a business can positively connect to the emotions of a customer, they may very 101 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:47,880 well create a customer for life, especially if that business doesn't screw up that relationship 102 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:48,880 along the way. 103 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:53,640 I'm going to pass it over to Premi and Anhao and they will talk about five key storytelling 104 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:55,560 structures that are commonly used. 105 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:56,720 Alright, let's get to it. 106 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:01,240 The first structure is the classic pyramid structure, also known as the Freytags pyramid. 107 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:05,600 Created as a dramatic structure by German 19th century writer Freytag, the structure 108 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,160 organizes the tragic into a straightforward narration, the beginning, the middle, and 109 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:10,160 the end. 110 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:15,080 Specifically, it can be further divided into introduction or rising action, climax, return 111 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,200 or fall, and then you guessed it, catastrophe. 112 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,080 It is a formula for tragedy, after all. 113 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:24,840 Though less applicable to works that are not tragedies, Freytag drew inspiration from classical 114 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,360 Greek tragedy and Shakespearean drama. 115 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:31,600 Next up, possibly the most common story structure in the English-speaking world, the Freytag 116 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:36,640 story structure is a classic structure that includes the beginning, midpoint, and climax. 117 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:40,560 Each of these points are part of the Freytags of the structure, which are the setup, the 118 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:42,760 confrontation, and the resolution. 119 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:46,760 The protagonist is usually faced with a choice that spurs them on their decision, but depending 120 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,440 on the setting of the story, do the reaction can differ. 121 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:54,080 Moving on to our next structure, Dan Harmon's circle is coined as the embryo, and in other 122 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:56,840 words is an 8-step storytelling shortcut. 123 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:01,480 The first step, a character is in a zone of comfort, life is a predictable pattern. 124 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,920 Then the next step, but they want something. 125 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,840 It is this desire that drives the protagonist to take action. 126 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:10,280 The third step, they enter an unfamiliar situation. 127 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:15,560 A protagonist then decides to cross the threshold in an unfamiliar situation to meet their desires. 128 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:17,400 The fourth step, to adapt to it. 129 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:20,800 They acquire new skills and learn how to survive in this new world. 130 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:22,960 The next step, get what they want. 131 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:27,920 The character finally achieves their goal, but with a twist, it comes with a cost. 132 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:30,840 The sixth step, pay a heavy price for it. 133 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:35,720 Victory is celebrated, but only losses and failures follow student thereafter. 134 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,440 The next step, then return to their familiar situation. 135 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:40,920 The character goes back to where they started. 136 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:43,160 And finally our last step, having changed. 137 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,480 They're changed and they bring the lessons they've learned with them. 138 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:50,600 The Dan Harmon circle can be adapted to fit many narratives and plots, becoming a structure 139 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:52,240 that is commonly used. 140 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,920 This next story structure consists of seven different points in the story. 141 00:08:55,920 --> 00:09:00,120 While similar to the free act structure, this story structure is relatively new and employs 142 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,480 more conflicts and turning points for the protagonist. 143 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:07,320 There is a hook, where the characters are introduced and the setting is established. 144 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:14,880 A plot turn starts off the story, but then the protagonist encounters a pitch, introducing 145 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:16,120 a conflict. 146 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:20,280 The midpoint occurs when the protagonist decides to take action. 147 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:26,600 Shortly after, however, another pinch or conflict occurs, making all hope seem lost. 148 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:31,160 The last plot turn occurs shortly after, when the protagonist discovers something that helps 149 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:37,360 them overturn the situation, leading to the resolution where the protagonist emerges triumphant. 150 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:42,960 Shows that have used this structure are the Hunger Games and Star Trek, for example. 151 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:47,360 And moving on to our final common story structure is The Hero's Journey. 152 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:50,880 The Hero's Journey structure is most definitely a classic structure that has been used in 153 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:55,640 many mini-stories, for instance, the Isis, the Minotaur, and the Lion King. 154 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,640 The Hero's Journey structure typically follows the hero as they begin their journey, facing 155 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:04,040 obstacles and challenges while meeting new friends, concluding with a safe return home, 156 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,400 transformed with new knowledge and experiences. 157 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:10,480 This structure is usually divided into three acts, with each consisting of four steps. 158 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:16,040 The first act consists of the Ordinary World, Call to Adventure, Refuse of the Call, and 159 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:17,440 Meeting the Mentor. 160 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:23,000 Moving along, the second act brings us to Crossing the First Threshold, Tests, Allies, 161 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,960 Enemies, Approach to the Inmost Cave, and Ordeal. 162 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,120 That's your hero's biggest test. 163 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:32,920 The story closes out with Reward, or in other words, Seizing the Sword, followed by the 164 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:37,160 Ropeback, Resurrection, and finally, return with the Elixir. 165 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:41,000 Thank you for explaining some of the common story structures used. 166 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,280 Maybe you've heard of something called a Story Arc or Narrative Arc. 167 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:46,360 These can also be known as Story Structures. 168 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:52,120 Next, Chania and Rebecca will discuss some well-known stories and what Narrative Arc these 169 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:53,320 stories followed. 170 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:59,280 Alright, the first Narrative Arc I'll be introducing is the Rags to Riches Story Arc. 171 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:04,780 This story arc transitions in a continuous upward manner and works towards a happily 172 00:11:04,780 --> 00:11:06,160 ever after. 173 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:11,720 The story typically starts at a negative value and slowly reaches a positive value near the 174 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:12,720 end. 175 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:19,360 You can see this type of story arc in Disney's Tangled movie and Matilda by Roald Dahl. 176 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,800 Man in a Hole Story Arc has a fold-and-rise movement. 177 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:28,440 This is one of the most common and highly-erated arcs, where the slope rises and falls, and 178 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:30,280 then rises and falls again. 179 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:36,240 In JR Tolkien's classic tale, The Hobbit, the main character Bill Bull baggins and marks 180 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:41,400 on an incredibly journey that nourished the narrative pattern of the literary trope known 181 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:43,200 as Man in a Hole. 182 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:47,920 In which the protagonist experiences a fall from grace followed by a rise in personal 183 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:50,040 growth and redemption. 184 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:54,560 Alright now, the next story arc is the Freytag's Pyramid Story Arc. 185 00:11:54,560 --> 00:11:59,760 In this story arc, the story starts off at a negative value and then enters a positive 186 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:01,280 value in the middle. 187 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:06,100 As the story ends, it then transitions back down at a negative value. 188 00:12:06,100 --> 00:12:10,800 So in short, the story starts off bad, reaches something good, and then descends back down 189 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:12,200 to something bad. 190 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:16,520 You can find this type of story arc in The Hunger Games and Titanic. 191 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:20,840 Cinderella is the classic example of the rags-to-riches story arc. 192 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:26,240 She starts off as a young girl who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, but finds 193 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,560 hope and love through a magical transformation. 194 00:12:29,560 --> 00:12:34,600 One example of this narrative arc is when Cinderella's fairy godmother helps her attend 195 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:38,960 the Royal Ball, where she captures the heart of the prince. 196 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:44,000 Another example is when the prince searches the kingdom for the mysterious girl who left 197 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:49,480 behind a glass slipper, leading to Cinderella's eventual recognition and happy ending. 198 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:55,040 In the rags-to-riches story arc, the movement is a continuous upward climb toward a happily 199 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:56,040 ever after. 200 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:58,780 Thank you, and this is such helpful information. 201 00:12:58,780 --> 00:13:03,640 Not only from the perspective of creative writing, but this is the kind of information 202 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:07,440 that can enhance a company's marketing and advertising significantly. 203 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:12,040 If you've ever watched the American Super Bowl game, besides the actual football game, 204 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:15,840 there's another source of entertainment that airs during breaks in that game. 205 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:17,720 It's all the Super Bowl commercials. 206 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:22,640 According to the USA Today, for this year's Super Bowl game, each 30-second commercial 207 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:27,440 costs $7 million, and that did not include production cost. 208 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,920 That was just for airtime. 209 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:33,880 Advertising agencies have the difficulty of producing a commercial that tells a story 210 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:38,280 for a particular brand in a 30-second window. 211 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,960 Sometimes they get it right, and sometimes they get it wrong. 212 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:46,200 When they do get it right, that story commercial can live on for years in people's hearts 213 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:47,200 and minds. 214 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:52,600 Alright, and with that said, we are done with this segment and done talking about story 215 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:53,600 structure. 216 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:57,800 We'll be right back after this short PSA announcement. 217 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:04,200 St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th. 218 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,800 If you like green, or if you are Irish, this holiday is for you. 219 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:12,200 This holiday is a cultural and religious celebration, which is held on the anniversary of St. Patrick's 220 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:15,480 Death, the foremost patron saint of Ireland. 221 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:19,960 Celebrations often include public parades, festivals in wearing green attire or shamrocks. 222 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:24,400 And finally, Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, will be celebrated on Monday, March 223 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:25,400 25th this year. 224 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:29,560 Holi is a popular Hindu festival celebrated in India and other parts of the world. 225 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:33,120 It marks the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. 226 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:34,280 And now over to Camila. 227 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,600 Thank you so much for supporting this episode with a PSA announcement. 228 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:43,280 Hey everyone, this is Camila from North Carolina, the United States, on behalf of the Alexandrian 229 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:44,280 Review. 230 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:49,360 The Alexandrian Review strives to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities, 231 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,800 creating a space for their voices to be heard and their stories to be told. 232 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:57,200 We're super excited to be back on the podcast for a PSA shout out again. 233 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:00,080 Thank you to everyone who submitted to our first volume. 234 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,400 This time, we have an equally exciting announcement. 235 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:07,160 We're opening a call for editorial, graphic designers and website coordinators to apply 236 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,820 for a staff position for our international Lit Mag. 237 00:15:10,820 --> 00:15:13,160 Open to teens ages 14 to 18. 238 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:19,400 For more details, find us on Instagram or TikTok at at alexandrianreview or visit our 239 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:31,360 website at https://thealexandrianrevi.wixsite.com slash alexandrian-review. 240 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,100 We're super excited to review all of your applications. 241 00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:38,400 Apply today! 242 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:41,040 We are back with our second segment of this episode. 243 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:46,260 In our first segment, we discussed technical aspects of storytelling, such as story structure 244 00:15:46,260 --> 00:15:49,720 and narrative arcs that were most commonly used in storytelling. 245 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:53,800 For our remaining episodes of this season, we will dedicate the second segment of each 246 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,520 of these episodes to telling a story. 247 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,760 My team and I will be writing and producing the story for you. 248 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:05,520 Our story fits the realistic fiction category and can be classified as suspense and mystery. 249 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:09,440 Chania, what does realistic fiction mean in storytelling? 250 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:14,120 Realistic fiction consists of stories that could have actually occurred in a believable 251 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:15,120 setting. 252 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:19,680 While these resemble real life, fictional characters within these stories also react 253 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,080 similarly to real people. 254 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:26,720 Realistic fiction stories could be characterized by feasible plots and settings that often 255 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:30,560 reflect real places and or historical events. 256 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:35,680 Ultimately, the characters in these stories deal with challenges and situations that readers 257 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:37,640 might find relatable or believable. 258 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:39,280 Thank you, Chania. 259 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:44,800 And without further ado, we present to you a story titled, The Secrets of El Dorado. 260 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:48,540 Fiction and produced by the Students Incorporated Season 2 team. 261 00:16:48,540 --> 00:16:54,000 And today, we'll be reading to you part one titled, The Disappearance. 262 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:57,240 Before we get started, we'll introduce the main characters played by us. 263 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,120 Chania, go ahead and start us off. 264 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:05,640 I'll be playing a character named Ciara Reese, a 23-year-old artist known for her creativity 265 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:07,360 in local street murals. 266 00:17:07,360 --> 00:17:10,920 I'll be playing a 24-year-old journalist named Ava Turner. 267 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:14,140 She's been out of college for a year and has been working hard in her first full-time 268 00:17:14,140 --> 00:17:16,560 gig for a popular and classic newspaper. 269 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:21,400 I'll be playing a character named Ethan Brooks, a 26-year-old tech startup burnout who quit 270 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:24,160 his high-paying tech job to open a small cafe. 271 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:28,640 And I'll be playing a 21-year-old character named Lily Han. 272 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:34,120 She's still in college and she's studying and has a keen interest in forensic science. 273 00:17:34,120 --> 00:17:38,560 And finally, I'll be playing a character named James Hawthorne, a 55-year-old college 274 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:54,100 professor of history and archaeology. 275 00:17:54,100 --> 00:18:02,140 The Secrets of El Dorado, Preface, The Setting and the Characters 276 00:18:02,140 --> 00:18:06,720 In the heart of California, nestled within the Sierra Nevada foothills, lies the quaint 277 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:08,920 town of Coloma. 278 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:14,920 This small town, just a 40-minute drive from Sacramento, holds a significant place in history. 279 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:21,240 It was here, at Sutter's Mill in January of 1848, that James W. Marshall stumbled upon 280 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:25,540 gold igniting the famous California Gold Rush. 281 00:18:25,540 --> 00:18:30,600 This event marked the beginning of a transformative era, drawing thousands of fortune seekers 282 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,880 to California in hopes of striking it rich. 283 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:39,960 The entire area surrounding Coloma became the epicenter of this historical event, forever 284 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:43,640 etching its place into the annals of American history. 285 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:47,080 Today, Coloma is part of El Dorado County. 286 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:52,680 It's a classic American town that thrives on a blend of agriculture, tourism, and education. 287 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:59,000 El Dorado College, which opened in 1948, exactly 100 years after the beginning of the Gold 288 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:04,040 Rush, helps contribute to Coloma's vibrant, young, and energetic community. 289 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:09,600 El Dorado County and College were named after the legendary treasure city of South America, 290 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:13,200 sought by the early Spanish explorers in the 16th century. 291 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:17,580 Gold, wealth, and riches are etched into the heritage of this place. 292 00:19:17,580 --> 00:19:22,520 The county is full of natural beauty and is a haven for adventure enthusiasts and nature 293 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:24,040 lovers alike. 294 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:28,860 Whether it's whitewater rafting on the rivers, downhill skiing in the winter, boating on 295 00:19:28,860 --> 00:19:35,240 nearby Lake Tahoe, hiking, camping, or simply enjoying the breathtaking scenery, El Dorado 296 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:37,800 County has a lot to offer. 297 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:41,080 This is Ava Turner, and let me tell you a little bit about myself. 298 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:44,040 I'm 24 years old and have been out of school for about a year now. 299 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:48,280 I actually grew up in Coloma and have always enjoyed the history and mystery of the town 300 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:49,280 and its past. 301 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:53,640 I enjoy coming back to visit whenever I can, and one of my best friends, Sierra, still 302 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:54,640 lives and works here. 303 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:59,040 My parents moved away a year ago, but that doesn't keep me away from there, as there's 304 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:01,800 so many places that I still call home. 305 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,600 And growing up, I always wanted to be a reporter. 306 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:08,360 Maybe it's because I watched on too many of those crime and mystery shows. 307 00:20:08,360 --> 00:20:12,520 Either way, I was thrilled when the Sacramento Bee, a well-known and famous newspaper, hired 308 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:16,920 me right after I finished my undergrad degree in journalism at Cal State. 309 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:21,720 The Bee has been around for over 165 years, and it's a well-respected new source for 310 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:22,720 the area. 311 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:26,200 I'm currently working as one of their junior investigative journalists. 312 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:30,480 I love finding the story behind the story, and then piecing all the elements together 313 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:31,480 like a puzzle. 314 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:35,240 I'm not sure what I like better, the investigation part or the writing part. 315 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,640 I'm curious, tenacious, and maybe even a little bit reckless. 316 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:42,560 I'm also really passionate about the inequalities and injustices I see in the world. 317 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:46,760 I hope to make a difference by raising awareness through journalism and telling stories. 318 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:50,680 Above all, I seek truth and I want to report and write my stories with this principle. 319 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:53,160 Hi, I'm Ciara Reis. 320 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:57,520 Like Ava said, we are best friends and have known each other since elementary school, 321 00:20:57,520 --> 00:20:59,440 even though she's a year older than me. 322 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:06,640 I'm 23 years old, and I just graduated from El Dorado College with a degree in art education. 323 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:10,240 I not only love to make art, but I love to teach it as well. 324 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:15,080 In fact, if you notice some of the murals around town, you'll probably see my signature 325 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:19,080 at the bottom, along with others who collaborated with me. 326 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:24,280 Growing up in this town, I have always been amazed at the natural beauty of this place, 327 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:28,640 which inspired me to do the murals that you see in town along Main Street. 328 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:30,800 These are done pro bono, of course. 329 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:34,720 I'm currently working as a barista at Ethan's Cafe. 330 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:38,360 Well, what's now known as Ethan's Cafe. 331 00:21:38,360 --> 00:21:40,800 This job has helped me pay for college. 332 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:45,880 I'm super thankful for this job, and it will be such a sad day when I have to move on as 333 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:51,280 I'm looking for a new job in the field of education, where I like to teach art full 334 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:52,280 time. 335 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:55,520 I've got to put that expensive degree to good use now. 336 00:21:55,520 --> 00:22:01,200 I'm creative, empathetic, and I have a good intuition when it comes to situations. 337 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:07,040 My job at the cafe also helps keep me connected to the town gossip, for good or bad. 338 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:09,600 I'm Ethan Brooks, the cafe owner. 339 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:13,160 I bought and took over the cafe a little over a year ago from the previous owners who were 340 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:14,920 retiring at that time. 341 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:19,440 I snuck a lot of money into the place to revamp the menu, replace old equipment, and fix it 342 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:20,440 up. 343 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:22,240 It's in a good location in Colombo. 344 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,280 My investment is paid off, as the place is pretty much always full. 345 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:28,920 My life took a significant turn over a year ago when I left the tech company to help start 346 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:30,080 in San Jose. 347 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:33,960 I still own shares in the company, and it continues to do good, but I just got completely 348 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,760 burnt out working 80 hour weeks for 5 straight years in Silicon Valley. 349 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:42,560 Man, it was fun while it lasted, but it essentially felt like it was just a tool. 350 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:44,160 I'd say I'm pretty good at tech. 351 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:48,440 I graduated from the University of San Francisco, one of the Bay Area's top tech universities, 352 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,840 when I was just 21 years old. 353 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:55,560 I completed both my undergraduate and graduate degree in just under 3 years. 354 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:59,400 To be honest, I don't know what will happen in the future, but I'm content with my quiet, 355 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,200 peaceful life running a cafe here for now. 356 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:06,560 I'm quiet, measured, and concise, and I feel like I have a good intuition when it comes 357 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:09,320 to the uncertainty of some situations. 358 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:12,760 Being known as a cafe owner instead of a techie is fine with me. 359 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:14,360 Hello, I'm Lily Han. 360 00:23:14,360 --> 00:23:19,720 I'm from Beijing, China, and I'm in the US studying Forensic Science at Aldo Rado 361 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:20,720 College. 362 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:26,840 This college, although it is small in comparison to Cal State or UCLA, has a great science 363 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:29,760 department with a lot of different specialties. 364 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:34,800 Many of the US best forensic scientists from the last 20 years have either studied here 365 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,840 or have been guest speakers or lecturers. 366 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:40,920 We even know about this program back in China. 367 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:45,920 I applied for a general science scholarship during my last year of high school in China, 368 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:48,040 and I was one of the three people who won. 369 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:51,760 The only two other people are at different universities. 370 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:56,400 I just finished my third year with one more to go before I'm done with my undergrad 371 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:57,400 and degree. 372 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:00,760 I'm not exactly sure what I will do when I graduate. 373 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:04,680 I'd really like to stay in the US and keep studying or find a job. 374 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:06,520 I do miss my family though. 375 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:10,840 My study group this year spent a lot of time at Ethan's Cafe. 376 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,680 We feel like it's our home away from home. 377 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:17,880 We love that place, especially since the new owner took it over. 378 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:19,600 The staff are friendly and helpful. 379 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:23,960 They even let us stay late sometimes to finish our studies. 380 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:27,120 I'm analytically friendly and consistent. 381 00:24:27,120 --> 00:24:32,400 I like to think of myself as having the voice of reason when it comes to working with other 382 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:33,400 people. 383 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:39,280 I secretly love adventure but still just did not have much opportunity for that until I 384 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:41,080 came to the US for college. 385 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:44,840 I love to help others and I tend to see the good in everyone. 386 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:46,580 Professor James Hawthorne here. 387 00:24:46,580 --> 00:24:49,040 My life is quite stable and pleasant at the moment. 388 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:52,720 Well, I guess you could say it's been that way for a long time now. 389 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:55,440 I'm sure my wife would agree with me on that. 390 00:24:55,440 --> 00:25:00,640 I'm 55 years old and I'm a professor of history and archaeology at El Dorado College. 391 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:04,360 I've been on staff at this school for close to 25 years now. 392 00:25:04,360 --> 00:25:08,440 Before that, I worked in Mexico and parts of South America on several archaeological 393 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,520 digs as an independent contractor. 394 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:15,680 That's where I met my wife as she worked on several of my dig teams. 395 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:19,520 After having kids, we needed to settle down so we moved back to California where we're 396 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:20,880 both from. 397 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:23,960 We settled in Coloma because of the job at the college. 398 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:28,360 This community, the town and the area is just a great place to live and raise a family and 399 00:25:28,360 --> 00:25:32,400 it's full of a rich history which has always fascinated me. 400 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:36,520 Our two kids are now grown and moved away but often come back and visit when their work 401 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:38,360 schedule allow. 402 00:25:38,360 --> 00:25:42,820 My wife is well connected in the local co-op and farmers market which have basically become 403 00:25:42,820 --> 00:25:44,720 a full-time job for her now. 404 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:47,200 I've done a lot of study on the history of this area. 405 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:50,760 I've written several books about the people, locations and the events that have helped 406 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:52,140 shape this place. 407 00:25:52,140 --> 00:25:57,560 With a special focus on the midnight 1800s, the time before, during and after the famous 408 00:25:57,560 --> 00:25:58,900 gold rush. 409 00:25:58,900 --> 00:26:03,440 I know a lot about the town, its lore, its secrets and some of its mysteries. 410 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:06,920 Some are true and some seem just to be legends. 411 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,600 Sometimes it's hard to separate truth from fiction, I guess. 412 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:14,040 I'm adventurous, knowledgeable and somewhat of a pessimist. 413 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:18,680 However, I try to keep that latter attribute hidden from my students at the college. 414 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:22,920 I've been to most of the historical locations throughout the county exploring and looking 415 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,000 for relics and artifacts. 416 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:29,440 Not only from the gold rush days but also from the Native American cultures that resided 417 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:30,440 here as well. 418 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:35,920 I'm always up for an adventure. 419 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:45,200 Part One The Disappearance 420 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:50,000 It's early June in Coloma and this small town is bustling with activity and excitement. 421 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:55,420 The annual gold rush festival just began and the college spring semester ended which ushers 422 00:26:55,420 --> 00:26:58,160 in almost three months of peak tourist season. 423 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:03,000 El Dorado College situated near Coloma's downtown district has an undergraduate student 424 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:05,800 population of about 4,000 students. 425 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:07,880 Some of these students return home for the summer. 426 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:10,040 However, many of them stick around town. 427 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:13,560 The town's population swells during the summer months which is great for both the 428 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:18,800 local businesses and for all the broke college kids looking to make some extra money. 429 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:22,760 And if you're a tourist, it's really hard to find last minute vacancies at hotels, 430 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:24,840 airbnbs and even campsites. 431 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:28,000 It's always advisable to book well in advance. 432 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,680 There is one main street running down the center of town. 433 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:34,840 It's a popular street lined with historical buildings, charm and some of the best food 434 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:36,320 and activities in the county. 435 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:41,800 Ethan's Cafe, a well-known local hangout spot, is known for its amazing pastrami sandwich 436 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:43,120 and root beer floats. 437 00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:46,440 Although they don't start serving those until 11am each day. 438 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:50,440 But before 11, they have an amazing assortment of coffees and pastries. 439 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:54,960 Ethan's, as the locals call it now, sits on one of the busiest corners on Main Street 440 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:57,440 opposite the bank and post office. 441 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:00,960 Ciara loves the summertime crowds in the cafe. 442 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:05,720 She gets to meet so many interesting people from all over the world, especially this time 443 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:09,560 of the year during the two week long Gold Rush Festival. 444 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:13,120 Not to mention, she gets to work a lot of extra hours. 445 00:28:13,120 --> 00:28:17,920 She needs the extra money because she's been wanting to trade in her old car for something 446 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:20,060 newer and more reliable. 447 00:28:20,060 --> 00:28:24,520 She barely made it through this last winter season with the old piece of junk she still 448 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:25,520 drives around. 449 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:31,240 It's the second full day of the Gold Rush Festival in Coloma and Ciara is working a long 450 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:34,640 day shift which started at 6am. 451 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:37,800 It's mid-morning and she just came off her first break. 452 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:42,080 Ciara notices Lily coming into the shop and gives her a quick smile. 453 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:47,600 Ciara knows Lily quite well, along with Lily's study group from this past semester. 454 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:52,360 Lily and her college friends would come into the cafe quite regularly to study and hang 455 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:53,360 out. 456 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:56,480 She shares her usual and looks around to find a seat. 457 00:28:56,480 --> 00:29:01,620 The cafe is quite full already so Lily tells Ciara that she is going to stand by the door 458 00:29:01,620 --> 00:29:04,440 and wait for a table to clear before she sits down. 459 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:08,020 Ciara asks, you're not going to sit up at the bar? 460 00:29:08,020 --> 00:29:12,380 Lily explains to Ciara that she's meeting someone in a few minutes so she'd like to 461 00:29:12,380 --> 00:29:14,300 sit close to the door. 462 00:29:14,300 --> 00:29:17,600 After all, she doesn't want to miss Chen when he walks in. 463 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:21,960 Eva is already about 30 minutes into her first article of a series that she's writing for 464 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:22,960 the beat. 465 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:27,000 She sits in the cafe and just finished her second cup of coffee, the article that she's 466 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:30,240 researching and writing her focus on the gold rush festival. 467 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:32,160 But she wants to add a slight twist. 468 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:35,800 The Beat's editor wanted Eva to get out of the newsroom and work on a series of summer 469 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:38,920 articles that The Beat could publish over the course of the next few months. 470 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:43,400 The Beat has been losing some of its readership over the last few years, partly due to the 471 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:46,200 hot political climate that exists in the country right now. 472 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:50,820 So the editors wanted to get back to some of the paper's original roots of focus stories 473 00:29:50,820 --> 00:29:53,040 about local and regional topics. 474 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:57,160 Eva notices Lily standing up close to her table that is situated by one of the front 475 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:59,080 windows and close to the front door. 476 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:03,760 Since Eva is sitting at the table with two chairs, she offers the open chair to Lily. 477 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:07,640 You can sit here if you'd like, Eva tells Lily and then points to the empty chair at 478 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:08,640 her table. 479 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:11,880 Oh, thank you so much, but I'm actually waiting for someone. 480 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:12,880 Lily responds. 481 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:17,640 Lily's body language gives off the vibes of being anxious and worried. 482 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:23,280 Lily notices Sierra walking toward her with her order, an Americano and a fresh baked 483 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:24,280 scone. 484 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:28,760 It's too early for lunch yet and it's a little past 10 in the morning. 485 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:33,680 Sierra also makes eye contact with Eva, who's sitting right next to where Lily is standing 486 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:35,560 and says a quick hello. 487 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:39,760 Eva says to Sierra, you can put that on my table while she waits for another table. 488 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:41,400 There's plenty of space. 489 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:42,480 Sierra responds. 490 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:45,960 I saw you in here yesterday, but I was too busy to chat. 491 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:51,080 Are you here working or are you on vacation or both? 492 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:52,600 Kind of both, Eva says. 493 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:57,560 Oh, by the way, this is Lily, she says, as she nods towards Lily. 494 00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:00,200 She's here studying in the science department at the college. 495 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:01,200 Hi, I'm Eva. 496 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:03,200 Sierra and I go way back. 497 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:05,040 We grew up together in Coloma. 498 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:06,040 It's nice to meet you, Lily. 499 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:09,280 And if you don't mind me asking, where are you originally from? 500 00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:10,280 Eva asks Lily. 501 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:11,280 Lily responds. 502 00:31:11,280 --> 00:31:16,200 I was born and raised in Beijing, China, and I'm here on a science scholarship. 503 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:19,840 I just finished my third year and I have one more left before I graduate. 504 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:22,000 Come on, you can sit here while you wait. 505 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:23,580 It's no problem at all. 506 00:31:23,580 --> 00:31:27,320 And I need to take a break from looking at my laptop screen anyway, Eva says. 507 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:31,440 I'd take a break with you too if I haven't just gotten off my morning break. 508 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:37,200 Sierra says as she glances back at Ethan scrambling around behind the counter, helping get customer 509 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:38,200 orders ready. 510 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:43,720 Eva continues to notice that Lily is quite anxious and nervous, so she asks, is everything 511 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:44,720 okay? 512 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:45,720 Are you worried about something? 513 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:49,880 Lily answers as she sits down in the empty chair across from Eva. 514 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:54,520 I was supposed to meet someone here about 30 minutes ago, but they still haven't shown 515 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:58,200 up and they are the type of people who's never late. 516 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:02,400 Well, you can sit here for as long as you want, Eva tells Lily. 517 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:03,840 Sierra chimes in. 518 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:09,040 As much as I like to be part of this conversation, I'm getting the get over here and help me 519 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:10,600 look from Ethan. 520 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:12,520 So I better get back to work. 521 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:17,920 All of a sudden, Lily just starts explaining to Eva what happened and what this meetup 522 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:20,800 with this another person was all about. 523 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:27,000 Lily explains, I received a text message last evening from an acquaintance of mine, someone 524 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:32,280 I don't know very well, and it seemed urgent and didn't make a lot of sense. 525 00:32:32,280 --> 00:32:34,640 Lily shows Eva the text message. 526 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:38,840 Eva noticed that the name of the person who sent it was Chen. 527 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:42,840 The message reads, I know we don't know each other very well, but it's important that we 528 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:45,980 meet tomorrow morning in person if possible. 529 00:32:45,980 --> 00:32:49,720 It's quite urgent and there's something I need to give you for safekeeping. 530 00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:54,520 Eva notices that Lily responded and said, okay, we could meet somewhere public like 531 00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:56,880 Ethan's cafe at 10 a.m. 532 00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,840 Chen's reply then read, yes, see you then. 533 00:32:59,840 --> 00:33:00,840 Thanks. 534 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:05,200 And Vera lingered around just enough time to hear most of that conversation before she 535 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:12,540 went back behind the counter and started taking more customer orders. 536 00:33:12,540 --> 00:33:14,040 And that ends part one. 537 00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:15,040 Thank you for listening. 538 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:19,880 Tune in next episode for the continuation of the Secrets of El Dorado, where we will 539 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:34,980 read part two, which is titled Uncovering Secrets. 540 00:33:34,980 --> 00:33:40,000 As we end this episode, I'm reminded that stories have power and the ability to communicate 541 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:44,560 far better than maybe a list of bullet points or a long lecture in a classroom. 542 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:48,720 And from a business and marketing perspective, if you want to connect in a deeper and more 543 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:53,940 meaningful way with your customers, tell them a story and make them the hero of that story. 544 00:33:53,940 --> 00:33:58,280 Make sure to tune in to the next episode as we continue to tell the story of the Secret 545 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:00,160 of El Dorado. 546 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:05,200 And as always, this podcast would not be possible without the hard work and support of our international 547 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:06,960 student production team. 548 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:12,680 All music and sound effects are courtesy of Pixabay.com, a vibrant community of creatives 549 00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:16,520 sharing copyright free images, videos and music. 550 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:17,720 And we are signing off. 551 00:34:17,720 --> 00:34:22,080 Until next time, we are Students Incorporated, because your voice matters.