Mathews County School System….

I have attended school in Mathews since the 6th grade. In those many years, I've noticed a lot of things: bullying, false accusations, faculty that seem like they went to clown college, and the most ridiculous administration. Throughout my years, I've been bullied about something that shouldn't represent who I am, while my grandfather was dying from stage 4 lung cancer. I was told I needed therapy from an administrator because of being bullied when they should've thought of my dying grandfather as a reason.

My 8th grade year; I was framed as an instigator, I was told I could be charged for something that was so irrelevant, that for once in my life I stood up for myself and talked back. I was suspended for a day for being disrespectful. Let me just tell you, there was a group of students arguing about someone calling someone ugly and that someone also told the one who they called ugly to commit suicide. I was the one that posted something on my story in 8th grade, that everyone else was posting, that basically said: ugliest girl, ugliest guy, cute girl, cute guy, etc. A girl slid up and asked for one and I said "ugliest girl," she replied the girl's name and replied "Ok." I sent it to the girl because we were good friends. Then, the drama began, I took myself out of the situation and got pulled in by the administration. The deputy that was our school resource officer, screamed at me and told me that the girl who was told to commit sucide was told by myself, and that I would've been responsible for her death. The fact that I was the start, apparently gave them enough frustration and hatred to blame me for the horrible decision another person made. I was suspended for a day because I stood up for myself and told them they were wrong, As many parents and students did too.

Freshman year, my best friend that I have had since 7th grade, was raped right before school started. She went through many sucide attempts because of it, the local deputy didn't do anything to the rapist and he still walks free of charges today. Then, the coronavirus hit out of nowhere and everyone was quarantined. The worst part of Quarantine was the fact that the guidance counselor we had before, had been fired for the complications she had received from Covid-19. She genuinely cared for each and everyone of us, she helped us with our mental health and supported us through every choice we ever made. After quarantine, almost every student in Mathews County were: antisocial, had a ton of mental health issues, and some were traumatized with depression. When we came back and realized that the counselor was no longer there, a lot of us were enraged with the fact that they fired her because of Covid-19 complications. One of our fellow high school students even had a church function with the counselor for mental health. She ran it by the school so she could post it to help others who had post-covid mental health issues, but the administration said no.

We are almost at the end of high school now, and once again. I have been framed for something, I once again find ridiculous. They wanted to search me because they were told, "I had a Weed vape and Nicotine vape at school," I straight up told them I didn't and they searched me and guess what, I didn't. Then, they said "we're gonna have to search his car," at that moment I lifted my head up, looked over at them and said "No you're not, if you want to search my car. You will need to call my mom and have her come here, because that is her car, not mine." They ignored exactly what I said and walked me out there and searched it, they found a pocket knife that my parents gave me for protection, and they suspended me for 10 days. I'd understand the 10 day suspension if a death threat was involved, but there wasn't. I understand their point of view, but what I don't understand is that most parents 20-30 years ago used to bring guns in their cars/trucks to school, and bring pocket knives into class. I understand we’re in a different era with school shootings going on, but the Virginia law states that a pocket knife blade under 3” inches is legal anywhere including school property. My pocket knife was 2.8” inches.

I've been traumatized enough for a lifetime, I don't need to be traumatized anymore and nobody else needs to be either.