Musezine 16

I am my own Stereotype
By Onieja Taylor
“The following students missed detention and
their days have doubled,” is the announcement I
hear every morning during homeroom. As my Dean
calls the names of those students, I realize
that when I’m in detention I don’t really belong
there. Detention is stereotyped as a place
where the “bad students” go when they have done
“bad things”, like disrespecting the teacher or
talking back. When I go to detention I’m there
for lateness, or not having my I.D. Detention
in my school is more like an after school program
rather than an actual punishment.
At the beginning of freshman year in high
school, I went in being a great student. The
deans barely knew me, the teachers described
me as a respectful student and Detention wasn’t
even in my vocabulary. As the months went on
“Sasha Fierce” was one of the names you heard on
the loud speaker daily. “Sasha Fierce, you have
missed detention and your days have doubled.”
“Sasha Fierce please have your planner signed and
report to the Deans office now.” “Sasha Fierce,
you were late and detention will be served on
Friday.” My first experience with “detention”
probably took place in my Religion class. Yes,
my religion class. My teacher seemed to really
have it out for me and I never understood why.
My friend asked me to pass her an empty water
bottle and as I passed it to her, she missed it.
“You have Detention,” the three words I heard
for the first time ever. I was in such awe. I
was never known to get in trouble. As I sat