When asked the difference between right and wrong, we will all say different things. But there are things that should be universal truths of wrongdoing: racism, sexism, ableism, and others similar. While many people will say they agree that being a racist is wrong, they care nothing about stopping racism. While many people agree that being an enabler of sexual assault is wrong, they will do nothing to stop it.
While my school preaches that all is well, we all suffer. For violence of any kind against one of us is violence against us all. Violence does not end after one time but rather is a cycle, one the district is guilty of falling into. I often hear admins and teachers speaking of discipline, and rarely do I ever hear them speak of why children misbehave. No person is born with malice in their heart, but it is their environment that creates hatred. I believe that when the district ignores the mental health issues that break students down, they only begin to ignore every facet of the problem. When children are frustrated and upset, they act out.
What makes student’s mental health so horrible that they are frustrated to no end? Racism that is reported and ignored, sexual assault that is repressed, bullying that is tolerated—when we start to try and solve these issues, only then should we have the conversation of discipline. Discipline is only a temporary solution to an existing problem, a pervasive one at that. I understand that today is a politically divided time, but I see no reason as to why stopping assault or condemning racism is problematic.
Many people have a lot to say about how I live my life, but they forget it is my life. If I want to speak out, I will. I will do what I feel needs to be done. I am not afraid to say what I believe because I believe in it 100%. I have acquired as much knowledge as possible at every opportunity, and the sacrifices of the foremothers who came before me to provide these opportunities will not disappear in vain. I take 5 AP courses, and when I graduate, I hope to have 11. I was given an opportunity to write, so I took it. I was allowed to run my own science experiment, so I am. So when I am presented with the opportunity to speak my mind, I will take it. When I have the opportunity to help, I will. When I have that voice, I will speak of things that make people uncomfortable because I was not given a voice to remain silent. I was given my conscience so I could read, observe, and analyze, leading me to my own conclusions and findings. I compile my studies and find results, to show those results to people and hope that they can agree on the universal wrongdoings.
