7 - Scarlet Ribbons

Summary

Apparently by the time I entered William R. Boone High School in the fall of 1953, further convincing the authorities to allow me to continue in public school was no longer necessary, or at least I was not made aware of it. I made good grades in junior high, apparently I didn't interfere with the rest of the class very much, and as far as I could tell I was accepted and popular among the student body. Clearly all those student elections I won should have made me feel proud and good, and winning a couple of them probably would have done that. But being the only winner of all the major student body posts actually made me feel weird, sort of conspicuous, and truly misunderstood by my fellow students.

Actually, just as in the junior high student council offices, being elected as student council president my senior year was just for the fall semester, so there was another election for the spring presidency. I was nominated again, and I wanted to bow out, but the student council adviser, Mr. McGarian, told me to hang on and let them vote. So I made a speech, as did all the candidates, but I told the student body that I did not want any votes just because I was the blind guy. I didn't need any more acceptance for acceptance sake. They should choose the candidate they felt would be the most effective leader.