there. I’d probably hug everyone in the classroom and thank them for the amazing experience, the great friendships, and the laughter.

      Despite the great experience, however, many teachers didn’t like my work. I faced huge academic obstacles and could not find a way to overcome them. After trying to be the best student possible for many years, I was faced with a situation that forced me to drop out. A teacher, who was my mentor for my final piece, threatened me. He looked seventeen-year-old me in the eyes and crushed my dreams with the words “You won’t get your degree if you don’t have sex with me.” This was the cherry on top of an already hard enough youth.