High school is hard. We’re busy, feel like we’re dying, and in a constant state of distress. And yes, sometimes the faculty in our school don’t help to relieve that stress.

But this is no excuse for the poor treatment we pay to the people who serve us lunch, who clean up after our mess, who take us to and from school every day, and who (yes, really) do their best to help us succeed to the best of our capabilities.

Take the freshman who got detention. Or the girl who was dress coded. Or the guy who has an F in almost every class.

At first, it’s easy to pin the blame on the deans. Or the security guards. Or the teachers.

But while we’re caught up in pointing fingers at other people, we sometimes fail to apply the same criticism to our own actions.

The freshman got detention for shouting profanity at the bus driver. The girl was dress coded for wearing daisy dukes and a tube top. The guy who’s flunking his classes boasts about not doing homework.

“I think it’s always disturbing when a student threatens to hurt you or throws the f-bomb out there at you, with all this cursing,” Grandview security guard, Debi Pomero said.

The adults in our school aren’t evil. Yes, they have bad days. Of course, they don’t feel good at times. And it may seem that they can be unduly harsh–But they’re simply doing their jobs. Even without a seminar at the beginning of each year, even without the syllabi given to each student on the first day of every class, we all are well aware of the rules and laws on campus grounds, and we’re all aware of the consequences.

It’s not like you didn’t know about the dress code. It’s not like you didn’t know that you’re unlikely to pass if you don’t do the assigned work. It’s all a matter of whether you want to follow the rules or not, and if you’re willing to accept the consequences–good or bad–of your actions.

“I think a lot of kids think that we’re here just to make their life miserable. It’s not like that,” Pomero said, “I wish kids knew that security’s whole focus is to make sure that everyone in this building is safe. Our rules are based on that.’’

At the end of the day, if you have a bad grade, it’s likely you who isn’t doing the homework on time, or putting in the necessary effort to succeed. If you do bad on a test, it isn’t because the teacher hates you, it’s because you’re one,incompetent, two, lazy, three didn’t try hard enough.

Stop blaming everyone else but yourself for your problems.

It’s a teacher’s job to teach you the curriculum, and if that encompasses homework, tests and quizzes, then so be it.

“You know, it’s hard [being a teacher], because you pour all of your energy into helping these kids achieve their highest potential. And so it’s hard because you’re working with them everyday or every other day and you want to teach them life lessons as well as content,” former English teacher and now dean Adrienne Barnes said.

Teachers really do want the best for us, but amidst grades, sports, and pressure, we sometimes forget that―surprise, surprise―they’re humans too.

“Sometimes kids will disrespect you if make mistakes, or if you’re not perfect, or if they see you on your cell phone, or if you’re late―things that teachers usually shouldn’t do,” said English teacher Jenette VanWormer.

“I think they hold you to such a high standard where you’re not allowed to be human in some cases.”

So with finals season coming up, and as grades start finalizing, try to keep in mind that your teachers, counselors, deans, and security guards are just trying to help with you. No one wants to see you fail, and though it may not seem like it at times, the adults in our school are there to help you.

“We’re doing this because we like kids and we want to help kids,” said VanWormer.

“I wish kids would understand how much we talk about them and how much we try to support them,” said Dean Barnes.