My students often rely on me as a confidant, though we are taught nothing is confidential in our line of work. Somehow the fact that I am not parole or corrections puts them at ease. At the rehab students often tell me how they are doing, they check in. Today A.J. told me he was very unhappy, thinking of leaving and using, in this case crack cocaine. I steered him toward support, peer counselors and big brother types that are always available to talk to. Isn’t rehab great. He came back later to work on his spelling and thanked me for encouraging him to talk to someone. Another student Cory came in, his face all flushed and pink from crying. He admitted in my ear that he told on his friend who was being thrown out of the treatment center. Seems Cory told staff this ‘friend’ had brought a gun with him to the rehab. “You did the right thing,” I told Cory.
Remind me to put ballistic vest on my wish list for my birthday.
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