First, a big thank you!
I'll never forget how you said I was not allowed to sit for what I stood for in your class. In your class, where I am supposed to be taught to let my thoughts be heard in the form of some type of communication, but, I suppose you took the language of my body as an embodiment of disrespect. I had been the first one to sit down during the pledge but not the last, not that it mattered anyway, you punished them as well. You began to belittle our way of thinking because we are young and naive and we listened to your point of view, like mature adults and let you talk us down. Through your powerful and experienced voice, you taught us what it is to be silenced. Oh, the perseverance! When other faculty, students, and parents had told you you were in the wrong, you persevered! Determined to have your words stand tall, unlike we could.
Thus, I admire your strong will to stand for what you believe in, but, if we, the people, need to kneel, sit, or even chain ourselves... you, out of all people, should understand why. And a word of advice, let's try to speak for the people who are in more dire need to be spoken for.
Best,
-Hanna Guzman (2021)
