Number of words – 255<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hayes addressed her audience of eighty-four new students: \u201cBefore you get your teachers, I have to give you a present. And as soon as i give it to you, you have to put it in your pocket.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She pulled an invisible object out of her jacket and put it in the hand of each child, leaning down to reach the smaller ones like Jaquan. \u201cThis present is my trust,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you lose it, you cannot go out to the store and get another one. You are going to have to earn it back, I am asking you not to lose it for the next eighty or ninety years of your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you want to keep my trust?\u201d Several children nodded. Some said yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow do you think you can lose my trust?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were several suggestions: fighting, lying, not turning in homework. She agreed that all of those were ways they could lose her trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have my back to several people right now,\u201d she said. \u201cAnother way you could lose my trust is to talk behind my back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone mentioned disrespect. Hayes\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cDisrespecting me? Uh! Let me tell you right now. Don\u2019t even try. Because it\u2019s going to make you look very bad, and you are going to lose my trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere are ways to earn back my trust, but it is very hard,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is a lot easier just to keep it for eighty or ninety years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n