Many people will assume things about him, this teenage boy with the lip ring. The sides of his head are buzzed in a way that resembles a faux-hawk, though the back of it is tucked into a short ponytail. He wears a gold ring with a blinged out dollar sign on one hand, and chains around his neck. 

The demeanor of this boy in the classroom presents a sharp contrast to the labels that many will assign to him as he walks down the hall. He is quiet and does not speak out of turn. He takes notes and does his work.  He is one of the most polite students I’ve known, always saying hello to me and to have a good lunch, a good day, or a good weekend. 

This boy is a daily reminder that appearances can be deceiving, and that we should avoid making assumptions about people based on how they look.