Permanent Records: Fact Or Fiction? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Permanent Records: Fact Or Fiction?

19997
Permanent Records: Fact Or Fiction?

“This is going on your permanent record!"

For as long as I can remember, the threat of a permanent record was enough to scare any school aged child into submission. It was the idea of something that would hold weight over our heads for the rest of our lives. Everywhere we went after school was over — college, the workforce, the police — everyone would have a copy of these records, and would know of all the horrible misdeeds we had done.

Of course, these misdeeds were as simple as forgetting to bring a hall pass with you when you needed to use the restroom, or using your outside voice when you were clearly no longer at recess.

Still, I've been waiting my entire life for the moment someone will say that I look good on paper, but there's a problem with what they're reading in in my permanent record.

I was never a bad child, to be honest. I got into some mischief like everyone else, but I tried my hardest to be the model student. I scored straight A's, excitedly waited for my turn to be the teacher's helper, and never once did anything to cause someone else a headache.

Well, unless you're counting that little incident on the playground in pre-k, but we won't go there.

By all rights, I was a great student. But teachers still made me believe in my permanent record. I'm sure anyone else can attest to this monstrosity as well; it was more than a tool of terror, it actually made us believe that there was some type of higher power, higher than our parents themselves, that could ruin our lives.

From one thing written on your permanent record, your life would be downhill. Jail would be in store by the time you hit the third grade, and you could forget about ever getting dessert packed in your lunchbox again. By fifth grade, you'd have dropped out of school, and you'd graffiti the entire classroom with the worst of the smelly markers so that it would permeate for the new classes to come.

Of course, imagination is a powerful tool.

A few days ago, I got bored and decided to do some research. What was a permanent record anyway? Did I even have one? If they existed, were they actually the monsters that our teachers had made them out to be, the ones we hid under beds from?

In short, no, they aren't.

In fact, this may come as a shock to most of you, but permanent records really don't exist.

At least, not in the form we know it as.

Yes, there were school records kept on us while we were students. But most of these were those boring forms your parents filled out; doctor's visits, full names, shot records, allergies and medications. If you got into trouble often, or had attendance issues, there may have been a note of that on these forms. As soon as we were no longer students, most of these were shredded, and if they weren't done so immediately, by now they're surely gone.

So, in short, my permanent record was never really there. It was just something said to keep me in line. No one is going to ever give you an earful because you jumped out and scared your teacher once, or that once, when they were late, you sat behind their desk and proclaimed yourself the new teacher.

If you were ever worried, rest assured now friends... You're safe.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2864
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1716
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200974
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21389
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments