by Rodrigo
During my time as a junior in high school, I wasn’t no Einstein. I did the least amount of school work and I didn’t like reading. Whenever I had a test, it felt like the real test was how to cheat without getting caught. On my last day of my junior year, I turned in my final test. I passed it with a little help from my friend sitting in the desk to the right of me. I felt accomplished.
When the principal of the school came to the classroom and told me to come with her and bring my stuff, I was surprised since I made it the whole year without getting suspended. I always had a good relationship with her. She was honest with me when she told me that she didn’t know what I did but she did know that it was serious and not related to school. I knew that what I must’ve done was serious.
My heart started racing as we walked through the double doors at the end of the hallway, I saw four police officers waiting for me. They asked no questions and handcuffed me. People were looking and I felt embarrassed. On the way to the police station, I looked out the window of the police car and thought to myself of all the plans I had for that summer that were now meaningless since I was being detained.
After what felt like a long process, I ended up at juvenile hall. I got used to it within a couple of weeks — getting up at six in the morning, reading books and working out to keep myself entertained. What was hard for me was listening to directions from some old dude who acted like Grumpy from The Seven Dwarfs.
My only motivation to do my best and to control my anger was my parents since they came to my visits and didn’t miss one of my court dates.