One time in middle school a kid who had been messing with me jumped me on the way out the gates at the end of the day. Neither of us was seriously hurt, but both of us were taken to the office and suspended. When I told them he had attacked me, they responded with “Yes but what did you do to de-escalate the situation?” And it’s like, motherfucker my introduction to the situation was a foot in the back!

That was one of the first times even my parents, who I had struggled with as well, took my side against some school bullshit.