Years ago, amidst the glamour of Hollywood, Alexander Calloway met Theresa Moreau. Alex was a rising director, and Theresa a hopeful star. Working together on his new film, they fell in love, and thus began a passionate affair that lined the wallets of tabloid owners everywhere. In between movies and red carpets, and nights out that would result in both their names reeking of scandal, the two tied the knot, and Theresa delivered a pair of twins, Jamie, and Katie.

Jamie doesn't remember much about his first and last year in LA, but the internet has told him that his dad got bad after he and his sister were born. Like, fights with the paparazzi, drunken acceptance speeches, crash your car into a light pole after the Oscars bad. The Calloways slunk back to Attawit, where Alexander's family managed a number of high end hotels. They bought a nice big mansion in Rose Point, tucked away from prying eyes, and rebuilt something of a family. It was in that house that Jamie grew up.

Those years were an experience for Jamie, to say the least. His family was not a family of failures, a fact which his grandparents had reminded his father of many times upon their return. Alexander only saw fit to impart the same wisdom on his children. It was rare that Jamie could impress his father, and while his mother was more easily wowed, as the years went on she became consumed by the gossipy wives of Attawit. His parents did not do emotions in public, and the majority of their family dinners occured at charity events and grand openings. Jamie found solace in words though, and the objectivity of news. With news, there was no feeling, only facts.

OIC was always a given for the twins. Alexander was an alum, and had been pushing the college on his children their entire lives. He wanted nothing less than the best for his children, and he expected it from them in return. College was no more challenging for Jamie than any other part of life. The perils of Attawit high society were familiar territory to him, and school had always come easy to him. If he had it his way, he'd keep his head down and go about his life, but the universe seems to have a funny way of pulling him into the drama that often engulfs OIC. Or as Katie suggests, Jamie likes being involved, in the eye of the hurricane. But it's definitely not that. At all.

First born and fiery like her father, Katie was the favored twin in the Callaghan household. She was always a daddy's girl, and she often spent the time she wasn't with Jamie, shadowing her father as he began managing his family's business. With the Callaghans, power was everything, and as Katie grew up, she learned to covet it. Some could call her a control freak, others just ambitious. Throughout the years, she's always sought to take the lead, and there's few who think to stop her.

This attitude made adolescence far easier for Katie than it was for Jamie. She thrived amongst the Attawit social scene, a charismatic speaker who often found her way into the most inner circles. School was easy for her, both academically and socially. Life in general, has always seemed to bow at her feet, eventually. Katie has never been one for complacency though. Where other's might see ease and accept it gratefully, Katie has always had a heart for challenge. She was no stranger to a busy schedule in high school, and she's learned to juggle in the years since.

Always trying to please her father, Katie never questioned attending his alma mater. Her interest in politics was inherited from her grandmother, an old mayor of Attawit whose seat her father hopes to reclaim in the upcoming election. At school, she's always found ways to be involved, and stick her loud, obnoxious self wherever people are willing to hear her opinions. This in turn, leads to a fair share of conflict but Katie's never cared much about what others think. This is her world, and everyone else, well they're just living in it.

Flora was adopted at a young age by Massimo and Sofia Dellaporta, a wealthy LA couple unable to conceive children of their own. An Italian film financier from old money, Massimo doted on Flora; he enrolled her in dance classes, paid for piano and singing lessons, but most of all, let her travel. Every year she'd pick a new country and spend every break from school visiting it, learning the language, traveling the country, and immersing herself. Her parents were concerned that she never seemed to bring any friends with her, but she was happy to simply explore. Flora is fluent in multiple languages, including English, Italian, Japanese, French, Spanish, and Thai, with a conversational grasp of many more.

Aria's life had been simple until that night. She went to local schools through her young life and got good grades. She had done a few stupid things as most teens do while they learn themselves and try out the new but nothing too extreme. Her parents were always patient and kind even with her blunders, it probably came naturally to them as they were both teachers. It had been the reason for their meeting and the start of a loving relationship. Aria might be a bit bias but she had never seen a pair more in love. No one would have thought they would have the fate they did.

They had all been out to the movies, heading home with excited talk of what they had all seen together. It was just a split second. A screech of tires, the justling, cries, pain, and the darkness fading in. She didn’t remember how many times she flittered in an out of consciousness, trapped and helpless while unable to focus. Aria's head felt heavy, a ringing in her ears and an unfocused gaze when her eyes opened to the harsh light that just made her want to close them again. The air smelled sterile, the bed though somewhat comfy was not her own and the clothes felt strange as it took her fogged brain a moment to take in that she was in a hospital bed. What happened? She didn't know. Why were her parents not waiting next to her? Was it past visiting hours? Were they hurt too? Panic flooded in, the sound of screeching tires stuck on her mind and she went to stand but instead she found a tube in her throat and her muscles weak, barely even able to move which caused her to freak as she tried to alert a nurse. A nurse rushed to her side, placing her back into the bed properly as she called for a doctor though Aria could only feel frustrated with the action. She didn't want a doctor. She wanted to see her parents and know if they were okay. They had waited on her, making sure she was comfortable now that she was awake. It had come to her knowledge that she had been in a coma for almost a year now. Her parents, that had been her first and only question. It had been like the world stopped when she found out while she was not the only survivor, her mom still in a coma while her dad had passed away. She didn't get a chance to say goodbye or even see it coming. Never again would she see him smile or do something to make her roll her eyes or pout in protest. Never would she hear his voice or do something to make them laugh. He wouldn't see her graduate. He wouldn't be there for her future as she had always imagined. As it was, her mom might not even be there for those moments either, the pain almost worse that she was still there but not.

Aria sucked in a breath she didn't know she had been holding and cried. No shame in who saw or heard her agony as her tears poured down her face. She felt utterly alone. The only one left was a distant relative she had never heard of, in a place far from home. She finished up her last few months in homeschooling and the settlement from the family that caused the accident was at least enough to keep up with her mothers hospital bills. She knew it was hard to be around her as she seemed to be walking corpse and no comforts from friends helped. She had gone to counseling and it had helped her see the possibilities and positives in her life. She visited her mom as often as possible and hoped that one day her eyes would open. The pain dulled a little over time and it was suggested that she try something creative to escape too. She had found that in photography. She captured beautiful scenes or shared moments of others and maybe one day, those memories with her mom. She would make up stories about her unknown muses. It wasn't long before no only did she want to just capture but create. She switched her focus of being a teacher like her parents before her and started down the path of photography and art. It had finally brought a bit of joy and she wanted to share it with everyone. She wanted to be a great artist and it gave her a passion to focus on.

With all the emotional toll, she took some time for herself after high school, starting college later than most which was kind of an embarrassment but what can you do? She took time to support her health both mental and physical, be closer to her mom, got a tattoo on her wrist of one crow flying in the distance and one sitting still with a red string between them to represent her parents, and she got used to the scars littered on her body in random places. She worked hard to get into a noteworthy college her freshman year but when OIC opened up to application on scholarships, she took her chance to sign up and hoping to transfer there for freshman year. Aria could hardly believe it when the letter came in for her acceptance and now she is striving to work hard and prove that she deserves to be there.

The first decade of Axel's life could only be described as quiet. Normal. A big house in Vermont, where him and his older brother ran around without a care, a big farm that his parents would take him horseback-riding every summer vacation...it was almost perfect. And then, Nia Maddox got sick.

Cancer, skin cancer, but it already made it's way to her brain when they found it. He remembered his father breaking the news when he was 11, and she passed 6 months later. Nothing was perfect after that. The trees weren't as green, the horses were old and slow, the grass at the farm was overgrown and full of weeds, and nobody recognized that happy family that once was anymore. And the family didn't recognize Axel, the happy kid who loved old fairytales and bringing stray kittens hidden in his school bag now spent most of his time getting into fights, drinking or locked away in his room by himself. Axel had become angry, unmotivated, and only seemed to get out of bed to get into trouble. His father felt like a stranger, who gave up on his sons almost immediately after Nia was on the ground, drowning his sorrows in work, alcohol and medication. His older brother tried being the responsible figure in Axel's life, but Gareth was only 4 years older, and it just resulted in straining an already rocky relationship between brothers. In the end, all the remaining members of the Maddox family ended up isolated, heartbroken and filled with resentment for each other.

Axel graduated from high school without any friends. Everyone saw him as scary, intimidating and unstable- and he couldn't fault them, they were mostly right. He spent most of his Friday nights drinking by himself, or doing questionable things in questionable places, but almost always alone. His purposeful lack of a social life had it's benefits, however: it made him actually okay at school. Though he had no motivation for academic life, he was naturally smart, and got through most of classes with an acceptable grade. Save for English, which seemed to be the only thing in school he showed any interest towards. Despite having the means and the grades, Axel had no plans on going to college...but his brother had other plans for him. Gareth Maddox applied for Oakwood International College behind his little brother's back, and made sure he would be accepted. Axel was furious, and if their relationship was bad before, it had become a thousand times worse now. After months of screaming and figthing with everyone in his life, Axel gave up and gave in, accepting the fact that he would be attending OIC wether he liked it or not...and he most definetly didn't like it.

Charlie Baker never knew much about her dad. Her mom didn't like to speak about him. She knew that he existed, because he must, that he'd been in San Diego while her mom was stationed there, and that one day he'd left back home to Attawit, never to be seen again. As Charlie's mom was moved around the country to different Air Force bases, Charlie clung to those four details, and resolved to one day put them to good use. Of course, she'd have a while before she could do that.

Charlie and her mom never stayed in one place for very long. Albuquerque managed to keep them for two whole years, so it's what Charlie would call home, but still, her youth has not been filled with the bonds that most others are forming. In lieu of friends, Charlie found company in design. She'd always had an eye for style, and sewing clothes was the kind of work that distracted you from the relative instability of your life. She poured herself into her work, designing everything from evening gowns to streetwear, and set her sights on the stars. She was sick of dusty bases where nobody would answer any of her questions. She resolved that one day, she wouldn't have to take no for an answer.

Of course, OIC was just a little bit of dumb luck. Had they not begun offering scholarships, Charlie would've never found a way in, but they did, and she got one, and she's never been happier. The acceptance put Charlie and her mom in a rocky place; Charlie's mother still refuses to divulge any information about her father and the last few weeks before her move have been spent in silence. Still, Charlie's looking forward to the year. If her father's still in Attawit, she'll find him, and while she's at it, she'll make a name for herself at this stuffy old school. Charlie Baker is free for the first time in her life, and she doesn't plan on wasting it.

Most would assume that being born into a wealthy oil family would mean an easy life of lounging around a massive house without a care in the world. That however couldn't have been farther from the truth when it came to Arthur’s life. Though his family was extremely wealthy and he was the oldest son Arthur's father made sure his kids wouldn't be spoiled and snobby like other rich kids. Almost as soon as they could walk Arthur and his brothers were put to work on the large cattle ranch his family ran as a reminder of where they came from. The life lessons didn't stop there though especially for Arthur.

Summers were normally the times when kids were able to enjoy time with their friends and get into trouble. For Arthur however, Summers meant more work and a lot harder work at that. The start of every summer meant Arthur and his brothers would be kicked out of the house and forced to live with the ranch hands in their small dorm building. Though they were the bosses' sons, Arthur, and his brothers were not given any special treatment by the workers who had been expressly told not to treat them as “Lynch boys”. Those long summer days and years of working for his father instilled in Arthur his sense of Hard work and determination to lead the empire his family had built. This is also where Arthur grew a bit of disdain for those born with a silver spoon in their mouth having worked a day in their lives for it.

Queenie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to two wealthy parents who run a chain of Luxury hotels along the French Quarter. She's always been fascinated by the elegant finery of the hotels, and has tried to make it her lifes mission to live in absolute elegance. Her parents supported her through this endeavor, however they didn't quite understand her unique sense of style. She decided to attend OIC to learn from the very best, and refined, in the fashion industry. Her parents are paying for her tuition full time, and are hoping their daughter is successful with her Fashion line. Queenie wears really flowy, and detailed dresses that are not only made from fine material, but that have a really extravagant look to them. Her sense of fashion is definitely a lot different than most people's in this day and age, and she is fine with standing out a little if it means she looks her absolute best. She hasn't opened her own design shop just yet, but she plans to one day in the future. Until then, she advertises her designs via Social media, and she is quite the popular model online, having millions of followers.

Born to new class wealthy privilege, Mimsy had worlds of opportunities laid at her feet. As long as they were worlds curated by her parents, of course.

Embracing her home country's heritage, she rebelled against those higher forms of authority who thought they knew better and tried to dictate her life, much to the consternation of her siblings and parents. Bike leathers and motorcycles, mountain midnight races, piercings and tattoos, drugs, sex, grades that just barely failed to be outstanding. Of course, it was also a life that was only afforded for her because of her parents' privilege.

Despite chafing under her parents grasp, Mimi liked being rich. It was what allowed her to be as flippant as she wanted, to escape the gaze of other authority which may have locked her up otherwise, and her parents were very much in control of that fact despite whatever feelings she may have had about it. And so, a compromise was reached. Mimsy would attend a school, a prestigious school, and get a reasonable degree, in a reasonable amount of time. In turn, her parents would turn a blind eye to whatever activities she may get up to while in her "college years." After that?

Well, Mimsy prefers not to think about that.

Jeim-Seu Yang is a pretty private individual when asked about his past, but for the sake of knowledge his story is only just beginning.

Jeim-Seu Yang, known affectionately as Jeim, pronounced like a gemstone without the stone, is a Korean American born in South Korea to a Korean mother and a Latino-Korean father. His father serves in the United States military and is very high up in rank. He also owns a few multi-billion-dollar businesses. His mother is a famous actress, director, and model stationed in South Korea. She is also the CEO of a talent agency for actors and models. Though not married, the two spend as much time as they can with Jeim and are aware of his sexual orientation. It's a long story as to how they came to accept it, but Jeim is their only son, and they would do anything to protect him. Jeim was raised like any other child, except for the part that his family was loaded in terms of finances and influence. On his mother's side, a line of celebrities joins the roster. On his father's side, old money sewn into his family tree.

Despite having loving parents, they were quite strict in his upbringing. He had a curfew and numerous rules that he had to follow. The luxuries of life had a way of making anyone get in line if threatened to be removed, or restricted. By the age of 15, Jeim had his own bank account, and yet his parents still expected him to use their credit cards. He began to discover his love for music. His vocal range was beyond belief, but he didn't explore it as much as he wanted to. By age 17 he explored with his sexuality. He had girlfriends in high school but it never felt right until his first boyfriend. The relationship was as toxic as it comes, but from that experience, he understood and tried to accept who he was. At age 18, he explored the option of going to college out of state after graduation and his parents didn't know how to feel. It was also around this time that he came out to his parents and began to find out who he was. His father disliked the idea of not having his son near him, but his mother thought the idea would help Jeim build character and make friends. With their support, he was able to apply for a prestigious college that focused on Criminal Law and Music, two things he was very passionate about.

Jeim doesn't like to speak about his parents because he doesn't want anyone to know, not out of embarrassment, but because he wants to earn his own way. His passion for criminal law came after many episodes of a television show and the idea of doing something good with his life. Music had become a hobby, but not one he wanted to pursue full time at the moment. Jeim feels he's ready for OIC, but wonders what college life will be like. Jeim can read, write and speak three languages; Spanish, English, and Korean.

Charles James Corbyn GCB MVO, Director at the Foreign Office during the 3rd Thatcher Ministry (1987 – 1990), alumnus and doctor of international politics at Baillie College of the Oxford University, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1985 for services to the Crown (it was never publicized what exactly he did), former Home Office Liaison at the UK Embassy at Washington D.C. and now Head of the Department of Government at the prestigious Oakwood International College.

Dr. Corbyn, or Sir Corbyn in certain circles, has most certainly lived a life worthy of an autobiography (not that one will ever be written). There are many questions on why he came to the states after so long a faithful service to the United Kingdom. In his first five years, he was a simple professor, though know to travel to Washington every few weeks. After those years though he assumed the position of head of the department after the previous one decided to retire early to spent time with his family. The details surrounding this sudden change in leadership are shrouded in shadows. Shadows that are particularly reminiscent of the shadows surrounding the entire life of Dr. Corbyn.

Ty was born in Compton, California as the product of an unexpected teen pregnancy. Her mother, who was freshly eighteen at the time and had only just began her second semester of college, was then forced to pack her things and move back to her hometown across the country when she realized that the boy she'd made the mistake of reproducing with had no intent on helping raise their daughter. Instead, Loretta Andrews leaned on her grandparents in Brooklyn for help, and the elderly couple welcomed her back home with open, supportive arms. Although Ty and her mother wound up moving back to Compton when Ty was seventeen, it was in New York City that Ty grew to become to woman she is today, and she'll always consider herself to be a "true New Yorker."

Being the great athlete that Ty had constantly proved herself to be, it came as no surprise to anyone in her circle when she received several full-ride college offers to play basketball. She ended up committing to Clark Atlanta, and also chose to continue pursuing another dream of hers by selecting dance as her double major. Things went well for Ty for a while: her grades were outstanding, she helped lead her team to two championship wins, and she even managed to join a few notable organizations on campus, a certain Greek letter org included. She lasted for three semesters in Atlanta before a certain "incident" involving her coach prompted her to transfer OIC. She never talks about her time there, and whenever anyone asks why she chose a college in Cali she says it was so she could be a little closer to her mom.

Despite being an American-born Chinese person, Shae's managed to live a rather comfortable life. His parents owned a successful restaurant in the heart of Chinatown that was passed down to his father by his grandfather, and it was expected for Shae, being the eldest, to inherit the mantle next. However, while being forced to work alongside his parents as soon as he was able to walk made him appreciate his culture, it did little to cultivate his desire to stand in front of a burning wok for the rest of his life.

Instead, whenever he found the time, he escaped into the world of literature and books, being inspired particularly by books that covered the final frontier: space. Whenever he wasn't washing dishes or frying noodles, he'd escape to any libraries he could, diving into star charts, astrological maps, and stories of all stripes and kinds from the fantastical to the autobiographical.

This passion eventually led to getting his Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, then Master's for Aerospace Engineering from UCLA. While in the course of pursuing his Master's degree, Shae took to writing fiction to keep his passion alive, exploring all the possibilities and "what-ifs" his mind always roamed to in between the mundanity of figuring out how rocket science actually works. He'd share his writings through online forums, figuring nothing would come of it, but that he'd at least be able to share his passions with the world. That is, until he one day realized he actually had an audience for his works. And the more he wrote, the more he started to realize where his true passions lied.

Now, several years later, Shae's published a successful science-fiction trilogy lauded for its character relationships and intricate setting, and is now taking the dangerous dive into shifting genres and trying his hand at creating his first fantasy book.

Nicolai, known affectionately as Nic, is one of the youngest instructors at OIC. His position didn't come easy, but his hard work and blatant determination left the board no choice but to hire him. Nicolai is very strict with his students, enforcing the title of Professor whenever they speak to him. He has been known to be slightly unfair to the sports students who dare take his classes. Nicolai graduated with honors from a prestigious college. He has been an instructor at OIC since 2017.

He is very aware of the rumors that circulate about him. Many take his kindness for something more. It is true that Nicolai is perhaps one of the sexiest instructors at the college, and it was because of this that the board took longer than normal to hire him. Nicolai believes that every mind is a canvas waiting to receive, and his job is to give it to them exactly how they need it.

In terms of Nicolai's upbringing, he never had to want for anything. His dad is a CEO of a major electronics company, and his mom is a tv host. He was brought up Christian, and when he came out to his parents as bisexual, all hell broke loose. It took him to the age of 18 to come out to them, but luckily at the time he was working and making his own money while going to school. His parents were furious and tried to cut him off, but due to the will left by his grandparents, he received millions when he turned 18 and there was nothing they could do to stop it. With his money he went to college and invested. He hasn't spoken to his parents in years.

Riley grew up in New Orleans with his father. He is mixed. His father is African American and his mother is Italian. Both sides of his family come from old money. His father owns several restaurants over the United States, bringing in millions of dollars yearly. His mother is a musician, a singer if you will famous for her tone control and high notes. Riley's dream is to win a grammy with his music and travel the world.

His parents didn't object or have anything negative to say when he came out to them as bisexual. His mother already knew, and his father, though slightly upset at first, understood after Riley educated him. Riley never wanted to take the easy route in life and worked hard for everything he got, even with his parents trying to get him to adapt to the rich lifestyle. Though generous, Riley will fight not only for himself but for others and is easily provoked. In middle school, his father was called many times because of the constant fights, and it didn't change in high school except it got a little more bloody. His parents were worried about his behavior. Though never aggressive towards his parents, they took him to therapy and there he learned ways to deal with his anger, but his fuse is still short.

Riley graduated high school and immediately decided to go to college. Throughout high school it was never a topic of discussion for him, and with the numerous girlfriends and boyfriends that he had, he rarely had time to discuss it, but his grades were always good and his love for music was a driving force behind his decision to apply to OIC.

When 31 year-old Armand Hastings boarded the family’s yacht for the annual Hastings family vacation through the Greek islands, the last thing he expected was to find romance at a hotel bar during a brief stop in Mykonos. But the moment his eyes fell upon 21 year-old Danae Iordanou, Armand knew he had found his soulmate. After a whirlwind romance, the chief financial advisor of the Hastings Family Offices and the former Miss Greece 1997/college graduate married in a two-day event at the Verina Astra hotel in Sifnos, Greece with a nondenominational American service and a traditional Greek ceremony, both followed by lavish receptions. The couple settled into married life easily, dividing their time between the United States and Greece. Three years later, after a difficult pregnancy and a high-risk delivery, the couple welcomed their first and only child into the world: Laren Athena.

The Hastings girl was born into a life of wealth and privilege-- along with the vast opportunities this provided. She was raised to be a poised, multilingual, eloquent, outspoken young woman, who was educated in the most prestigious institutions, possessed outstanding leadership skills and a drive unlike no other. She excelled in academics, with two of her most notable achievements being student body president and debate team captain at Marymount High School. Upon arrival at Oakwood International College, Laren was rushed and consequently pledged into the Alpha Phi Nu sorority, and managed the feat of becoming the chapter’s Director of Social Media in less than a year. Maybe her large social media following and celebrity connections had something to do with that. Being the daughter of a man that manages the wealth of the rich and the famous has its benefits, after all.

PS: The reason her last name sounds familiar? OIC’s Hastings Library is, indeed, named after her family.

Alana Kingsley was born to then-23 year-old Eleanor Singletary on the afternoon of May 17th, product of a one night stand after her community college graduation. Although her parents were never together, Henry Kingsley made it a point to be present in his daughter's life… As present as a travel nurse could be, anyway. Thankfully, Eleanor had found a stable job at their hometown’s hospital, and had full support from her family and the baby's father.

Raising Lana was a team effort that produced a lovely, respectful, well-behaved young woman. During her time at school, she mastered the craft of being socially invisible, and blending in with the crowd in a way that prevented her from becoming the target of any sort of attention. She was considered a good student, but nothing excellent or out of the ordinary. But her passion for the arts and its history, along with glowing recommendations from her teachers and a standout essay, earned her a full-ride scholarship to Oakwood International College: and, with it, the opportunity to start her journey to achieving her dreams.

Coming to OIC was intimidating, to say the least. From the very beginning, Alana was well aware that her social standing was far below that of the majority of her peers, but seeing how truly wealthy they were never ceased to amaze her. And yet, she chose to take the opportunities being awarded to her with a grateful and humble heart.

Keep your eye on the prize, as they say.

As a child, Suzu's home was average. Her parents were average. Her school was average. But Suzu Yoshinaga has never been average. A math prodigy, her parents only discovered her gifts when she grew tired of pretending to be like other kids - not because she'd wanted to 'fit in'. No, Suzu had simply made a game of trying to match the math scores of random classmates based on common mistakes they made. Once she grew bored of it though, her parents decided everything had to be special, just like Suzu. She got a scholarship to an accelerated school, graduated early, got her Bachelors, got her Masters, got her Doctorate, (all in rapid succession) taught herself to play the violin, modeled on and off, became an award winning painter for a summer, worked for a Fortune 500 market analysis company, took up aerial dancing, on and on and on, collecting hobbies and skills like badges, but always, always coming home to her true love: math. She landed a prestigious teaching job at OIC two years ago and it's interesting enough. Grading is a chore, but the petty little dramas of her students and coworkers are entertaining. Just between us though, she's been on the hunt for a new job lately... and there are plenty of companies who would jump at the chance to land the infamous Suzu Yoshinaga.