“Those mean detention, I swear!” exclaimed Sabrina Morgan. I had just been handed one of those infamous yellow slips of paper. Detention…me?

Words were scribbled out at the top of the paper. Sure enough, my name was there, hardly legible. I skipped down the sunny morning hallway to the office.

I soon found myself sitting amongst other students with similar slips of paper and gloomy expressions on their faces. Everyone looked so morbid, like they were dreading every step they would have to take into Mrs. Smith’s office.

Suddenly a loud “Next!” was shouted from inside the Vice Principal’s office. Some were anxious to get in and get out and rushed inside the first chance they got. Others sat quietly, allowing everyone else to go before them.

Another “Next!” was fired and I got up and went into the office. I sat in the stiff-padded chair. The interrogation began.

“Where were you on Tuesday during second period?” Mrs. Smith inquired.

“I was at school in math class.” I responded. She glared over the desk and leaned forward slightly.

“Did you cut?” She asked me in such a tone that made me feel like a delinquent. It actually made me begin to question myself. Did I cut? I stared blankly at her.

“No.” I responded, once I came to my senses. “I’ve never cut before… ever!”

Though I tried to assure her, she still wrote me up for a detention. “Get this cleared by your teacher or we’ll see you in the Auto shop next Tuesday!” she tossed a paper at me. I felt so distrusted, I wouldn’t lie! I have never been treated in a way that made me feel so low and depleted.

It must be extremely difficult for Mrs. Smith to trust anyone. With the amount of people she see a day, a good percentage of them probably do cut and lie about it.

Nevertheless, the way a student is treated will reflect the way they act. Students treated as children will typically respond as children. It’s hard for the student to give an honest response when they are expected to lie.

When we’re treated as though we are liars and suspects to crime, how are we to have any confidence in who we are and what we do?

I believe that students succeed because of encouraging people in their lives. Many times we just need someone to inspire and encourage us; someone to be there telling us that we can make it.