Recently; there were stories told about the black students who attended Little Rock high school in Alabama as I began to sob at the things the students had to take while attending school because I have something to reflect on.

I went to parochial high school which graduation is predominately white and I was the only true black Catholic in my class. I had one year of public high school. It was then that the drama began. I was falsely accused by a teacher to urinate on the chair during class. The teacher called my parents and the principal to report this incident. He said I was high on been the night before. I do not drink alcohol. Another thing is that I was a B student before things began to fall apart. The students did not want me to sit with them on the bus. Shortly after; I was accused that I belonged in Opportunity school, that I had a discipline problem and was disconnected. I always loved school because my parents are educators. I was always shy and kept to myself. In fact I spent time in the library before school, during lunch and after school studying. I would rather study during Assembly's.

I was afraid to graduate from high school with high grades because I was being bullied by the students. The students would hit me as I passed in the halls, ridiculed me saying I stink, spit at me and falsely accused me to give me detentions. I began to get more and more isolated to be safe.

The gates were locked in junior high and high school because of outside religions and public school students threats. There were reported rocks thrown in the classrooms I had and gun shots heard. There was a car bomb too.

I was afraid to walk across the stage at my high school graduation; but I got my diploma.
The car windows in my neighborhood were hit by rocks. The threats continued.

In college there were writing on the bath room walls. I was called the "N" word many times, saying I was stupid and I did not belong in that I should have failed and was socially retarded.

I was told if there were any students seeking therapy to see the teacher or the student would fail. Most assignments were done wrong or incomplete. I was told to sit in the class through the humiliation and take what ever grade I got. My psychiatrist had something to prove. Edgar Allan Poe flunked school because of his mental illness for it is harder to pass in school with a learning disability. Some of the greatest minds were schizophrenics who surpassed social norms recorded in history.I stand today with over 200 credits and one associate degree and working on a bachelor.

The voices I hear are from my insecurities telling me to quit. My front door was kicked in several times in that I took it a threat to quit school. The door was dismantled, side boarding and the lock and knob completely separated. It was kicked in every time I got a new job or applied for another degree.

I lost my brother to suicide. His death has made me stronger to fight more for survival. I hear the voices say that I am asking for in that I am scared of everyone here; but my faith in God is stronger than their voices.

I do not know if I will graduated with a bachelor. I do feel God is present looking over this anticipating where my faith will lead.

I am an honor student in college and the credits show I have overcome my disability.

Learn more about this author, Angela K Brown.
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