My life

Things started to go wrong for me as early as primary school. When
you were exceptionally “bad” you were sent to the head – Mrs
Graham. You would expect a little sympathy when you’re six years
old, but she never gave me any. Instead she shouted at me and
that’s when I started to rebel. As l grew up I found more and more
ways to upset the teachers and classmates, upsetting me and my
parents in the process. It was mostly my fault, but the teachers
and Mrs Graham never helped me to get better. My parents were asked
to come in and Mrs Graham told them I was an “evil child”.

Later we had a headmaster who was very different. He talked to me
quietly and asked me what was wrong. We became friends. But I had
him for just my last year.

After the first month at secondary school I started going back to
my old self and by the end of year seven had got myself a very bad
reputation. Things began to escalate and I was suspended for
swearing and walking out of school. That day when I got home my
parents seemed ashamed of me and I was sent to my room. The next
day my mum and I actually had some fun and we went out for lunch. I
think they were trying to tell me they weren’t ashamed, but also
that they didn’t want it to happen again.

When I went back to school I made a real effort. But when you get
suspended the teachers have it in for you and I was accused of
things I didn’t do and told off as soon as I sat down. One teacher
even shouted at me and gave me detentions for not lifting my feet
when I walked. I started getting put in isolation for stupid little
things. And I was given more and more hassle at home. In year nine
I accidentally pushed a girl and she fell over. A reputation gets
you in more trouble. I was put in isolation for a day.

My parents thought things were getting bad and so I went for a
week’s trial to a special boarding school which was founded by a
cool guy called Krishna Murta, but I didn’t get in. That really
crushed me because I was certain I would get in and I loved it so
much.

Since then I’ve been suspended again. My parents were devastated.
But I’m going to make more of an effort at school – I guess it’s
worth it in the long-term.

Names have been changed