In high school a certain big news event concerning high schools and trenchcoats occurred and me and ALL the goth kids at my school were kicked out for what are BS reasons. I hadn't even had a detention in four years at that point, but I was actually arrested because one of my bullies thought it would be loads of fun to tell people I'd said I was going to shoot up the school. I hadn't, of course, but I went through arrests, juvie for four days, house arrest for a whole summer of my youth, a lawyer my parents could barely afford, and a court case that two of my own teachers took a sick day to attend and testify on my behalf.
I ended up with a bunch of dismissed charges and a 75$ court fine for 'inducing panic' for something I didn't do. It messed up my GPA to a state that I couldn't apply for colleges when before I was a A- student. And all this circus was pushed for by the vice principal who seemed to think that I was trouble because I was goth, and that I was missing 'good Christian values'.
Anyways, my big regret is that I sat through all that in terror and never flipped that man the bird.
You should write to him. Nothing hateful, just clearly describing the impact that his actions and prejudice had on your life.
Maybe just that post without the last line?
I mean hand gestures are a way of expressing your anger and distain for someone. A letter could do that in a measured,mature way.
Plus if you'd sworn at him he would have taken it as reinforcement of his opinion of who you were. Written well the letter will make him realise the mistake he made and the damage he did to a young man in his care.
You’re not too old to make your dreams come true. You can still go back to school and get your degree. There are so many ways to do it now - on line classes, distance learning, community college classes. A couple of years ago I attended a community college graduation for people who had earned Associates degrees. It was the most inspiring graduation I have ever attended (and I’m a middle school/high school teacher who has college students/grads of my own). I saw people from all walks of life and all ages walk across that stage - grandmas, grandpas, single parents, and traditional students. No matter what life threw at these folks, they kept their eye on the prize and kept taking classes towards their degrees. It took some of them years to finish, but they did it. You can too, one class at a time.I should have worked harder. Done more. Focused more on school. I was too busy socializing and I didn’t think grades mattered. I tried community college, but that didn’t work out. Now, I’m a 34 year old single mom who lives with her parents. I hate it to no end. Like, I can’t even begin to explain how much I hate it. I’m grateful to my parents for all the help they have given me, but I hate it. I have no one to blame but myself and it goes back all those years ago when I should have been focused on school. The only good thing is that my brothers saw how badly I was screwing up and they did the total opposite. They are now both extremely successful and I am beyond happy for them. I hope my son makes school a priority and looks at me for what NOT to do. I refuse to let him follow in my footsteps
You’re not too old to make your dreams come true. You can still go back to school and get your degree. There are so many ways to do it now - on line classes, distance learning, community college classes. A couple of years ago I attended a community college graduation for people who had earned Associates degrees. It was the most inspiring graduation I have ever attended (and I’m a middle school/high school teacher who has college students/grads of my own). I saw people from all walks of life and all ages walk across that stage - grandmas, grandpas, single parents, and traditional students. No matter what life threw at these folks, they kept their eye on the prize and kept taking classes towards their degrees. It took some of them years to finish, but they did it. You can too, one class at a time.
I would say
Choosing to have fun rather than working hard at times.
In high school a certain big news event concerning high schools and trenchcoats occurred and me and ALL the goth kids at my school were kicked out for what are BS reasons. I hadn't even had a detention in four years at that point, but I was actually arrested because one of my bullies thought it would be loads of fun to tell people I'd said I was going to shoot up the school. I hadn't, of course, but I went through arrests, juvie for four days, house arrest for a whole summer of my youth, a lawyer my parents could barely afford, and a court case that two of my own teachers took a sick day to attend and testify on my behalf.
I ended up with a bunch of dismissed charges and a 75$ court fine for 'inducing panic' for something I didn't do. It messed up my GPA to a state that I couldn't apply for colleges when before I was a A- student. And all this circus was pushed for by the vice principal who seemed to think that I was trouble because I was goth, and that I was missing 'good Christian values'.
Anyways, my big regret is that I sat through all that in terror and never flipped that man the bird.
Wow! I wasn't a goth kid, but I did wear a grey trench coat (think more trench coat nerd like Jerry from Parker Lewis ). I do remember the somewhat bad rap they got a the time, though fortunately most people took it in stride. I was sometimes asked why I was wearing that thing. My answer was always, "because it's cold." That usually just shut anybody up. I mean, it's a coat, not a manifesto! I just liked it, plus it made for a great Inspector Gadget Halloween costume one year.
That's really terrible that that happened to you - getting involved in the legal system can be such a nightmare!