Aurora 2024

Aliyah Orten

11 The middle school nurse is a kind woman; she’s shorter, has blonde hair, a soft but feminine voice, and her name is Barbie. She makes everyone feel special when we are in her office. I am in her office all the time with stomach aches. When I am feeling sick, she calls my mom to talk to me rather than assuming I am making my feelings up. Every day, before gym class, I go to her office to take my inhaler. When I eventually leave for high school, she cries; she says she will miss me. This is the stage where they begin putting limitations on classroom exits. Teachers monitor our exits and reward us for not using any. I am confused by these concepts and rules. Why are there limitations? I see friends ask to go to the bathroom three minutes after the other exits. While observing this I understand that that could be a reason. But when the teachers say, “Unless you have a medical reason with a doctor’s note, these rules apply to you all.” I wonder how I would get a doctor’s note.

My parents tell me my stomach pains are not a problem, I’m just working myself up and creating these feelings.

With the schools’ limitations came a policy called “oops & log” for discipline. I once asked my English teacher during silent reading time, if I could use the restroom, and he said “It will cost you an oops.” After a minute of contemplation, I took the mark by my name and went to the nearest restroom. Needing to control my breathing

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