Chapter 2: Struggle and Empowerment

Return to School

On the third day of my return to school, while I was with my friends, the principal's voice echoed in my ears as she shouted, "What are you doing here? Get out, leave the school!" At that moment, all I could say was, "Tell the Minister of National Education, you played your lies and games on the wrong person this time." But as I said this, my hands and voice were trembling; I vividly remember that moment.

I wanted to go to my class, and my beloved teacher Hülya İşcanlı came to me. "Mutlu, your friends will help you; we’re going to take the exam today," she said, and immediately my friends gathered around me to support me. During this time, my parents also came to school to prepare to defend me in front of the disciplinary committee.

Disciplinary Committee and Family Support

When I went down to the disciplinary committee, I joined my family. That discussion is still fresh in my mind. My father said to the teachers, "If you look at Mutlu's grades, he is a very successful student. He is well-liked and respected at school. Therefore, you know that the reason for expelling my son is invalid." My father's courageous words were very empowering for me.

He continued, "If you are looking for a crime related to his sexual identity, the guilty ones are his mother and me. Our son did not choose this situation; we created him. If you are looking for the guilty party, it’s us." These words deeply affected me, and my respect for my father grew even more.

The disciplinary committee stated that they had no issue with me and that I needed to return to my exam. This return was beginning to empower me even more.

The Moment of Victory and Final Words

I returned to school, but the principal placed me in a very difficult situation when it was time to hand out report cards at the end of the year. While the other 15 students received their report cards from the principal, I obtained mine from my subject teacher. As a result, the principal was forced to be assigned to another school.

When I went back to school to collect my diploma, I was filled with a great anger as I approached the principal's office. I tucked my diploma into my back pocket and walked toward her. "You played your game on the wrong person!" I said. "Clearly, my son takes after his father, existing in a gray area; if a person like you could handle this situation, you wouldn't play such games. Ucube 2, Şeytan 0!" I left the room with a furious look.

Outside, I wasn't using the name Mutlu; therefore, everyone continued to know me as Ertunç.