"Misery and Frustration of Caged Animals at Boston Zoo" by Arthur Schatz
It was a crazy first semester of college.
I had trouble adjusting to being away from a strict home and free in the dormitory.
It was lots of fun, but also became an existential 'difficulty' as well.
I heard from a friend that there was a therapist working for the school.
You could go and see her in her office, and all the talking would be confidential.So I told her all my secrets.
The fears enfolded in my life.
Just setting out from home.It turns out her husband was also a therapist.
At another college...
Someone told him their secrets too...
On one typical Friday.And over the weekend that person
Decided to take their own life.
Something I was NOT planning to do.People came bang-bang-banging on my dorm room door.
They said I had to come with them straight away - Now, this minute.
To the Dean of Students' office.Where they told me that I would not be able to leave that room...
Even to pack my bags, until
I either left to the local mental hospital
OR the other nightmare...
Calling my parents and telling them 'my situation.'What was 'the situation' exactly?
I was a young person leaving home for the first time -
Confronting choices of my own and struggling with them.I decided on what I felt would be the lesser of two evils,
But I was very angry at what I saw to be a gross betrayal of my trust.
I pouted.... Big time.
I might have even made Grrr.... Aaargh sounds.
I certainly didn't speak nicely any more.
To them.Someone else was sent to pack my bags and all my belongings
While I sat in that hated room.
And waited for all the things to come together
My parents to come pick me up.Being stubborn, strategic, and choosing the course that would get me back on track,
I had to follow the rules they made up as they went along
To get back into that school, so that I could transfer out at the first opportunity.
Otherwise I probably didn't have a chance at college, and my life would've been a bit different, I expect.I finished all my semester assignments left over after being kicked out hard... and did well.
I had to go for a course of therapy and get a green check mark and letter saying I done good.
I worked until 3am at a factory that sprayed a horrific perfume on me with every other stamp.
No one would eat with me.
I dealt with my parents' disappointment.... which was probably the worst.I got back into the school, got the best grades,
And transferred out at the very first chance.
And finally, I was home.
Lovely, creative, school with excellent multi-disciplinary teachers.Some things work out for the best, oddly.