A well-known quote which used to be chalked on blackboards in our school every morning was: “Practice what you preach”. We were taught how to implement what we learn. We were taught about “Equality for all”. But doesn't our own society end up deceiving us? Studying in prestigious schools used to make us proud. It made us want to write our school's name on our bags. In fact, we were proud to describe ourselves as being students at a particular school. Notice how I used the past tense? What has happened over the years? Why is it that any new students who come to our respective schools wish that they had never made that choice? Discrimination. Downright discrimination is the reason why. Between the toppers and the weak students. Between the male gender and the female gender. Between the “highly attentive” individuals and the “I'm sick of school” beings. Between the fake people who plaster a smile on their face to disguise their ugly personalities and the genuine and beautiful ones. But who cares really? As long as you get the grades, and the teachers know nothing about your true character, you always win at life. Once upon a time, school was the main source of happiness. And now? It does nothing more than cause students anxiety and sadness. Everyone wonders what is wrong with today's younger generation. With judgmental eyes boring into your soul, searching for mistakes and past experiences to mock you with, how can they expect us to be “happy” and attentive? They question and pretend to care about why we are breaking down, while the truth is, they are the spirit-breakers. Not everyone is strong enough to get back up, but does anyone care? There comes a point in school life, when you have had enough. You've had enough of all the people who label you because of your mistakes, enough of all the critics who have nothing better to do than laugh at you and then say: “We do it for your own good.” There comes a time when you've really had enough of everything negative. That is when you become numb. And the only thing that matters is getting out of that “educational institution”. And this is when you are termed “rude” or “disrespectful”, just because you don't show any emotions. But honestly, ask yourself, who drained it out of us? Here's to all the kids who are going through this phase. Stay strong. And don't let the negative people get to you. This is just the beginning of a really long ride, and hey, we are warriors. Anne Frank rightly wrote: “Deep down, the young are lonelier than the old.” And some places just add to that loneliness. Our hearts left school a long time ago. I hope we can bring them back. [The above does not apply to every student and is in no way directed at anyone.] Rabid Azure