Well it was the night of graduation I had my body fully spray tanned, ready for the next 24 hours to come as Formal followed straight after it. My hair was long and bright RED, fell all the way to the top of my tail bone. I was approached walking into my graduation ceremony, by this middle aged white woman who called herself " the year 12 head master". The message she was relaying to me was that in 2012, I was no longer allowed to Graduate with my fellow students because my hair was no longer a natural colour. My hair was always black and I decided to change it as I wanted it different for formal. This exact situation is the reason I; A) never understood the school system and B) why I nearly didn't make it to graduation. Of course I had most of my family members there and after my mother absolutely ripping her a new one, it was then my older sisters turn. Rachel is my second eldest sister, she is 28 years old, brown hair, olive skin and most of the time people say we look the most alike. Rachel is fierce, out going, knows what she wants and is a proud extravert. Rachel at the time had a 3 year old who was sitting so patiently to watch her Aunty graduate her year 12 formal and was not going to let some power struggling Middle Ages woman change that. Rachel and I are mid way in a very angry conversation with the "head master" and for a second I remember having a out of body feeling. When I stood there watching that teacher, who thought she would teach some student who was always left field and a little too opinionated a lesson. It always reminds me of a typical 'action' movie, Rachel is the analytical, intellectual, brains of the pair of us. Rachel knows how to talk anyone around anything, Rachel could "sell ice to an eskimo" any day of the week. Then there was me, the one that looks intimidating, quite at first, doesn't show much expression or emotion. I call this time, the "calm before the storm" this exact metaphor is accurate for me I go 0-100 before people have even blinked. 😂 I am the first person to say F*&% the system, screw conformity, I have never conformed a day in my life! I mean I come awfully close when I compromise with my husband, however that's very different. 😆 This teacher has chosen to put her foot down even though the risk of her future in that position at that school is very questionable after this, I decide to agree to her terms. Her terms was that I am to wear a scarf, a scarf wrapped around my head to hide my hair, so that I don't "embarrass" the school or their credibility. Once again this is exactly what is wrong with our school systems, state schools are run by the Government, my colourful hair for one night on graduation, doesn't do SHIT to your school or it "reputation". I remember looking over and my dad is sitting there in the crowd, arm across the chair next to his, so chill, so calm and proud of the strong women he raised. Then I look over at Dylan and his parents, sitting there so quiet and not too sure what to do or were to look, I am never ashamed of the stands I take in life. My class is being called out and i'm getting ready for my name to be called out, I am in the line with my head wrapped in a black scarf my sister just happened to have in her car. My name gets called and I start my walk, my walk towards my Principal who is going to give me my year 12 completion certificate. I get to the front of a crowd about 900 people, I place my hand inside the principals, squeezing his hand tight. I turn my body to the crowd, rip the scarf off my head, rip the certificate out of his hand, take a bow and walk off. I am a human being, the colour on my nails, or the colour in my hair, the way I walk, or the fact I chew, chewing gum, none of those matter to how or what I learn in school. Our school system is fucked! and unfortunately the next generations don't have much hope either.Everyone is trying to put you into one box, one box for every single person, every person must fit in that box. Until one day we turn and look around and realise, its just a fucking box, and no one was ever going to fit or mould to that exact box. I have taught both my children, to respect themselves, respect one another and respect others. I have also taught them, just because they are children doesn't mean they are beneath adults. Just because they are children, doesn't mean they don't deserve privacy, respect, protection and openess from the world. If they ever find themselves in a similar situation as I was on that night, I know my babies would stand up for what they believe and do them!
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