Bonded by Frustration

Sometimes, we meet one of our favorite students in the worst of situations. In retrospect, we were meant to meet each other. However, on that day, we were both filled with anger and frustration.

The entire college community was notified that a very high-profile politician was coming to campus. I had never seen the campus so clean! Everyone was a bundle of nerves. This politician demanded, and commanded, respect. It was a rough few days leading up to the event. Our college president was notably stressed about having this guest on campus and all the media entourage that followed.

I was placed on perimeter patrol with the security staff because I was responsible for all areas of student discipline. During one of my rounds with an officer, I saw a group of students in an area where the politician, my president, and the entire entourage would soon be walking. The officer asked them to move to the venue, if they wanted to see the event

One male student became very loud and aggressive. By this point more officers had joined us. I, then, asked the student to calm down. The student then shouted “Fuck that piece of shit, [Politician’s Name Redacted]! Motherfucker!”

I then raised my voice and firmly stated that they had to move along.

Only to be screamed at “Who the fuck are you?”

Nope, I am not the one, especially not on this day. “I am one of the deans who is about to make your life a problem! Let’s GO!”

A team of officers and I managed to maneuver the student throughout the college and not be seen by the entourage. I could only imagine needing to explain to my president and this politician why a student was being escorted by police.

We finally got the student to calm down in a private security office. After talking through the incident with the student I learned a good amount of information about the student. I explained the procedure for discipline hearings. The student was escorted off-campus for the day and scheduled to meet with the Dean of Students, and me, for the next day.

Prior to the scheduled meeting. The entire executive board of the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) came to see me and really defend the student. They knew not to defend the behavior, but really didn’t want a really harsh punishment for him. One e-board members, who I knew very well, asked me to speak with the Dean of Students to consider not suspending the student.

The Dean and I met with the student. The student didn’t really want to hurt the politician, but absolutely hated what the politician did in office. We were both convinced that he wasn’t a real danger or threat to the college. The Dean was impressed by his “warrior spirit” and I agreed. We needed to channel his passion for justice. The student was assigned to volunteer with my office, read a book on Emotional Intelligence and submit a summary by the end of the term. Everything was completed and over the time we bonded and talked about a lot of things going on in his life.

A several weeks later, he was faced with huge challenge. His best friend, another student, had hit the bottom of a pool, head-first and was left paralyzed. They were all members of LASO. Everyone was heart-broken. My student never left his friend’s side. He was at the hospital every single day. Upon release from the hospital he went to the house and helped the parents provide care. My student was committed to helping his friend learn how to live in a, now immobile, body. This was a difficult challenge for everyone at the college.

Eventually, my student stopped doing well in school. In time, I didn’t see him anymore. He took a break from school. I was worried about him, but didn’t see him again for many years.

Seven years later, after I had left my full-time role at the college, I was called to adjunct there for a summer class. I agreed to the last-minute assignment and reported to my classroom for the class. I called attendance and noticed his name. It is a common name and no one responded when I called the name. I moved on with class. Approximately 10-15 minutes into the class, he entered and was all smiles when he saw me. I have to admit that I was very happy to see him. After class, we talked and he did very well in the class. On the last day of class, he friended me on Facebook. We are connected, via Facebook, to this day. He appears to be doing well.

I have worked at community colleges most of my professional career. Community colleges are often the only choice some students have to pursue higher education. There were many times during my tenure in that role, that we, the Dean and I, suspended, or even expelled, students from the college. I have often thought about those students and wondered what happened to them. To be honest I have worried about some of them and how we have impacted their lives. I can only hope that they have moved on to another community college and kept pursuing education. As for my “warrior” student, I am proud of the decision we made to really listen and reconsider the “threat” he was, at the time.