Avoiding Altercations by Kendra Thomas

When I first came to Cedar Shoals I thought that I was going to be fighting all the time. My name is Kendra. I stand at 4 feet 11. I know I’m not that tall so I have to protect myself. I said to myself, “If anybody steps to me wrong I was gone nut up.” The 2nd day at Cedar Shoals my 9th grade year I got into an altercation with another student. There were a lot of people involved in the incident because it had started outside of school, and then it escalated in school. The principal at the school at this time was Dr. Hill, and she was a tough cookie to try to make crumble. That’s why when I went to the office she was threatening to give me 10 days at home or either alternative school. It wasn’t really my choice because she was shooting for alternative school but she saw the potential in me. She gave me 10 days. My mom tried to get it stuck in my head the summer before I came to Cedar Shoals that I can’t act up. The exact words that came out of her mouth were “You're going to high school Kendra, its time to grow up and be mature. High school is going to plan your future." While I was at home my class mates were at school getting there education. And what am I doing at home, and can’t talk on the phone? I felt so stupid because I could have avoided all of that nonsense, but I didn’t want anyone to think I was weak.

I learned that I can show people that I am not weak by not paying these boys and girls any attention; I learned that my knowledge will take me far, and fighting will get me shot, lock up or dead. You have too much potential to just throw it all away, too many people my color are held back from what they truly can be. The street is not a place where you want to be, trust me. The streets don’t show you love, whether you know it or not. You can believe me or believe them. You have your own mind and you have to make your own decisions. Only you can determine what you are going to be by your actions.