LIFE IN HIGH SCHOOL

CHAPTER 6: JOURNEY TO SELF-DISCOVERY

This final term for the session wasn't going on well for Shantel. Her grades were really dropping and her class teacher had noticed it. He had called her to speak with her and with no meaningful response, he had sent her to the Guidance Counsellor's Office for advice. Shantel had obeyed but had not listened to a thing the Counsellor had said. She had said 'yes' and 'no' where necessary, and had left after the Counsellor had nothing more to say. She had being asked to return, but didn't. Aisha had spoken to her as well all to no avail.
"Listen Shantel I can't say I know how you feel right now, but please your studies are way more important than your feelings. Your grades are dropping drastically. I use to look up to you girl! You have to sit up, I'm not liking this one bit".
Then Mrs Zamani, her SS1 class teacher had sent for her. She had asked Shantel to sit while she concluded on her grading for a test she had just given her students. She then turned to face Shantel.
"I guess you know why you're here? But I need you to understand that anyone who is trying to talk you out of this madness you're portraying is only doing it, not just because they care, but because they see potentials in you that will be lost if you don't come to your senses quick".
Shantel smiled, she always loved her bluntness.
"This isn't about me Shantel, I have been done with this phase of my life years back and I'd never go back to it. This is about you! Your life! Your future! What are you gonna tell those who look up to you, your parents and even future children that made you fail?"
Her next statement shocked Shantel. "That some boy named Elan just can't help his childishness and dates everything in skirt, made you this senseless that you've lost hope of ever living! Look at you, every 'Shan' in you is fading away. Sorry I haven't called you to pamper you with words, but to show you the very pit you're falling into, because of a boy you might never see again after you leave here. Grow up Shantel, take a hold of your life again. You can never be a Surgeon with these grades, so sit up. Because you will face so many challenges worse than this, what will you do then? Quit? Take a hold of yourself right now!" she ended.
Shantel had shed tears, Mrs Zamani had hugged her and told her to get herself before leaving. Finally, someone had broken the ice and brought her back to her senses. She will take charge of her life, like an eagle she'd soar higher than before!

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
Three weeks later, an urgent Prefects Meeting with the School Heads had been called upon during the break period. Aisha had just informed Shantel and together they both left to the board room. Elan had almost bumped into Shantel while rushing out of the board room, obviously he had forgotten something.
"Shantel, erm I'm sorry, Hi" he said.
"Hello Elan" Shantel greeted and went right up to her seat.
Some prefects were sitted already and some teacher, she had mouthed 'Goodmorning Ma'am' to Mrs Zamani who was sitting across her. Minutes later, the Principal and School Administrator had arrived and they all stood to acknowledge their presence. The Principal then addressed his audience.
"Greetings everyone, we apologized for the inconveniences this urgent meeting might have caused. Information reaching us is that certain students have been found to be sneaking out of school at will. This has been going on outside our knowledge until recently. Apparently, while some have been sneaking out to go get stuffs outside of school, others have been secretly going to a club that is just a few miles away from here" he paused to be sure everyone was listening. It seemed he had gotten all their attention and continued, "An SS2 student was rushed late yesterday night to the school clinic and discovered to have had an abortion!"
Everywhere was noisy now, shock written all over their faces.
He hushed them and continued. "Shade Falana in SS2 C is the victim here. Investigations have been done and names of people guilty of leaving the school premises at odd hours have being submitted. Some SS1, SS2 and SS3 students have been listed, worse is that some Prefects who are suppose to uphold the law of the school are included. They will all face the full wrath of the school".
The Principal went on to list out the names. Yemi and Elan's name had being mentioned. Shantel wasn't surprised about Yemi, but when did Elan start leaving the school premises? The School Administrator then spoke out,
"For everyone found guilty, they will all be expelled from the school. Shade's parents have been alerted, we expect them soon. We called you all here to know the recent development and sit up on your jobs, no lagging behind, the Prefects may leave,while the teachers remain".
"With all due respect I beg to differ"
Everyone turned to see who had spoken. Shantel had her hand raised up.
"Yes SP-F, go on" the administrator said.
"Everyone of us here is guilty of what has happened. Yes we the students are responsible for our actions, but our parents put us here because they expected us to be with capable hands who would help us shape our decisions and influence our actions. I know some persons might still behave abnormally, but not many will. I'd say we address the root cause of the problem. Suspending or expelling a bunch of these rebels isn't enough but closing up the holes left behind, else other vulnerable students would fall into it again, and we still find ourselves repeating the same actions we are doing right now" Shantel spoke with so much confidence, to the awe of everyone present. "Now students sneaking out of school is something that has been consistent over the years. The question is what have 'we' done to curb it? And by 'we' I mean everyone of us sitted here" she gestured. "The security officers are either bribed or not carrying out their duty professionally, that has to be checked. The Staffs of the Hostels need to be up and doing, not leaving the activities of the hostel solely in the hands of the Hostel Prefects or Prefects in general, because the issue of clicks and relationships can blind anyone of us to protect our guilty friends. I'd like this be put in consideration. That would be all, thank you" she ended her speech. Mrs Zamani smiled and spoke up
"Well I think the SP-F has hit the nail on the head, it is quite important we pay rapt attention to these details and act accordingly" she winked at Shantel who smiled back.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
Shantel's speech had being regarded. Both the Security Personnels and Hostel Staffs had being called and addressed. The School board had sat with the parents of the guilty  students and they had agreed to suspend them but on the basis that they would resume the next session, repeating the class again. This was because expelling them was going to be a dent on them to other schools. Shade's parents hadn't taken it lightly with the school, they blamed them for negligence and declared they would take them to court. But that was where it ended, no one took the other to court.
With the school session coming to an end, Shantel had made it through, but had dropped by some points. She had come fifth in the grades ranking for the SS2 session. She wasn't going to let that happen again and she didn't.