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Walking through the halls of high school
is a life experience all should share. You become aware of
what society is becoming and you observe others and choose
whether you want to be like them or not. I know that in my
high school the halls are tightly packed and you can't help
but hear conversations as you pass by. Some are disturbing
while others make you laugh uncontrollably to yourself. However,
the particular one that I am going to share was one that made
me incredibly empty inside and overall made me a better person.
In school there is always that one person who seems to be
picked on more than anyone else. Sometimes it's a girl and
other times it's a guy. In this case it was a girl. When you
hit high school you go two ways. You either are invincible
or you are terrified. In the situation I am going to describe,
the guys felt they were invincible.
As I was sitting in homeroom the Monday before the homecoming
dance, I overheard the guys talking in class about who they
were going to nominate for the homecoming ballot. I wasn't
too surprised at the first three names but when they said
the fourth my heart dropped. They had the nerve to nominate
the girl ( Susie ) that they had been picking on since middle
school but what was even worse is that they had all their
buddies do the same thing so she would definitely make the
cut. I felt so bad for her but what was I supposed to do,
go up and say that she should drop out of the running? I couldn't
ever do that to her so I just pretended I didn't hear a word
they said.
Later, when they announced who had made the homecoming ballot,
the second girl they named was Susie. When I saw her in the
hallway she had a smile on her face and accepted her nomination
for the ballot. I approached the guys and told them it was
wrong to do what they were doing and that they should forget
their plan. Of course they are guys and didn't listen to me.
As a matter of fact they got angry at me for approaching them
about it. After that I just took a back seat and let it play
out.
Saturday, at the dance, Susie was wearing this hot pink and
green dress that was something someone would wear in the eighties.
I felt bad because she would have to be called up to the stage
toward the middle of the night to be introduced as part of
the homecoming court. The guys were still carrying out their
plan and everything had a sour feeling about it. Susie's date
didn't even go to our school. It was one of her church friends
who no one at our school knew. Well, later on into the dance,
the homecoming court nominees were introduced. The most popular
girl in our school was named first and the guys whistled and
girls cheered. Next was the captain of the girl's basketball
team and the crowd cheered for her as well. Third was the
speech and debate senior girl and finally was Susie. As soon
as she began to walk up to the stage all the guys began to
boo her. They did this until she reached the stairs to the
stage. The look on Susie's face was one of embarrassment and
humiliation. Even though the teachers were around and said
a few things to the kids around them there really wasn't anything
they could do to stop it.
The queen was announced and yes it was the most popular girl
in our grade. Susie stepped down from the stage with tears
in her eyes and I didn't see her the rest of the dance. What
those boys put Susie through that entire week was wrong, a
poor show of their character, and was something I hope never
to witness again. As for my actions I am ashamed of myself.
I could have said something to the teachers as this plan was
brewing but instead I took a back seat and allowed someone
to be hurt and humiliated in the process. As a senior this
year, I have learned to embrace the people who are different
and to never turn my head the other way when someone is being
hurt. I hope others have learned from my mistake as well.
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