(October 4, 2004) — With a skip in my step, a smile that could melt the hearts of snowmen, and happy thoughts, I skip on to the office with a fist full of papers that require the lovely signatures of those that govern us in our paths to success by a leash and a few words, our saviors; our leaders; our school staff. Frolicking joyously within the vicinity of the office where the phones and the copiers roam, I await my turn to give a good hey-dee-dey and a request along with it concerning my edu-ma-cation. Seconds fly by like days, minutes like weeks and then it seems that 10 minutes have gone by and it’s finally my turn! I cautiously approach the desk of my commandant and stand the proper three feet away, feet together, back straight and mouth shut so as not to break the tender silence or be discourteous as she sits there gazing at her reflection within her nails. “Excuse me, madam, but could you possibly sign this for me so that I can go study further and expand my edu-ma-cation as you all want us to do?” I said. All of a sudden the air goes from pleasant to a meat locker like atmosphere, and her standard Office Depot spinning chair creaks around. Her eyebrows making a flying V, vicious incisors being exposed, and her eyes no longer shallow pools but steaming jacuzzies of rage. Then all of a sudden in a loud and informative tone yells, “A SIGNATURE? A SIGNATURE? GET OUT NOW! GET OUT! NO BUTS OR WHATS, GET OUT!” Do you find this to be a recurring dilemma while you try to get by in school? Where a member of the staff has an accumulated and bottled up rage that once in a while just happens to pop round your end and put the ol’ wa-tish on your backside! Why must we be the victims of random Teacher’s Moment of Seething (TMS)? Or even an Administrator’s Moment of Seething (AMS)? Because we are the cause of it all! From the numerous other students who promote and create all this troublefor the staff –– and who definitely receive and deserve some high pitched sounds –– some of us, the innocent, just happen to be lucky number 100 for the grand prize of “no crime… but punishment!” We all know that the one who holds the Expo marker or gives you classes or answers the phone is “The One,” and that only he/she has the divine power to tap some plastic keys with numbers plastered on them that transform from analog to digital, from digital to vital, and the vital being your grades, transcripts and recommendations! Imagine him/her sitting there trying to create such things, with the thought of their hatred towards you from that one single occasion where you said, “Um, could you sign this, pretty please?” and received an incredibly loud and scary rejection. Not a pretty “A” or “outstanding student” anymore, is it? More like, “flunk!” It seems that they do not have any other alternative but to raze student’s high hopes with their own little temper tantrums that cannot be saved for the house or even their angelic, little children. If you’re walking into a room for a little favor and notice some horns poking out the top of your teacher’s head, then swing around and run for your very life, for that one moment could cost you quite deeply, because some grudges never fade away. I think some pillows are in need of purchasing so that during breaks and lunches, staff members might be able to spend some quality time with them whether it be sleeping upon them, yelling at them, or even whipping through with an Exacto knife, just as long as we know you’re just dandy and happy to help the next student in line with pearly whites and some sunshine, and no cloudy day.