How was your high school experience? Mine was boring. All I did was learn, eat and occasionally sleep. I didn’t join any clubs or sports, I had a few friends, and most of all I was powerless. Literally. I couldn’t do anything fun. And by fun, I meant wielding weapons and magic, going on missions and making friends saving the world. I would have loved to have been someone, in high school.

Instead, video games – specifically Final Fantasy – was my escape.

Every day school ended, I did my homework, ate dinner, and played Final Fantasy. I saw kids older, and even younger, than me doing all of the cool stuff I would have loved to do. And in two the high schools in Final Fantasy VIII and Type-0 made me want for a better learning experience. I wish I could have studied at one of these institutions. But then, if I could only choose one, which one would I have chosen? I have two choices:

Balamb Garden is a major location in Final Fantasy VIII, situated east of the town of Balamb. Students (usually orphans) attend school in hopes of becoming SeeDs. Balamb Garden is one of the three Gardens in the world.

Or…

Akademeia (魔導院ペリシティリウム朱雀, Madōin Perishitiriumu Suzaku?, lit. Magic Academy Peristylium Suzaku) is a major location in Final Fantasy Type-0 and Final Fantasy Agito. It is the capital of the Dominion of Rubrum, and serves as an academy for training Agito Cadets and the place of the Vermilion Peristylium that houses the Vermilion Bird Crystal. It is located on an island connected to the mainland by a bridge and serves as the home base for Class Zero, and where Rubrum’s governing body, the Consortium of Eight, is situated, and where the dominion leader’s office, Chancellor Khalia Chival VI, is.

These are the high schools I fantasized attending.

On one hand, I like the idea of being a part of SeeD, a “mercenary force for hire, conducting missions around the world as battle support and undercover operatives.”

Who wouldn’t want to attend school with such fun people like Selphie, Zell, and Squall Quistis? I would have loved to join the Garden Committee and set up the Garden Festival. I would have loved to eat hot dogs (or flavored bread). And it would have been so cool to play Triple Triad in an attempt to beat the mysterious Card Queen.

Then again, I would have cried my eyes out taking tests. Or would I? Not only would I get to improve my rank, but I would also get to increase my salary with every test I ace. And only ten questions per exam? That’s an incentive to study. Do I need more of an incentive to study? How about Quistis as my instructor? I would do anything to impress her as a Trepie.

But given my luck, Squall, not Zell, would probably be my roommate.

On the other hand, I like the idea of being a part of Class Zero, the premier class of Agito Cadets.

I’d have fourteen friends, each sharing a common goal. Sure my other classmates would be afraid of me, but I’d convince them that I’m not a violent person. And how hardcore would it be to challenge your new instructor to a violent altercation, when you only expect to take order from your Mother?

…oh, wait.

I’d have a lot to choose from with these two choices. If I could, maybe I’d travel back in time just so I could repeat my high school experience in one of the other institutions.

Yet again, Balamb Gardens and Akademia aren’t high schools where the students just happen to study the art of war (despite how they’re presented); they’re military bases/installations. They shelter military equipment and personnel and facilitates training and operations. They provide accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a command center, a training ground, or a proving ground.

People die. Sometimes you lose your memory if you don’t lose your life first.

And I guess being athletic and sacrificing my life in a war setting, would have been prerequisites for attending both of these schools. Oh well. I’m too old for high school anyways. Only in my dreams.

But if you had to choose…?