Parents, imagine your daughter has been asked to the prom by two different boys. She’s left it up to you to decide which of the two will be her date (assume for the sake of this exercise that “Neither” is not an option).
Both boys have previously been disciplined for drinking alcohol before a school dance.
The first student admits his wrongdoing when you ask if he’s ever been in trouble. He accepted his punishment (a three-day suspension from school). He takes responsibility and tells you that while he was with four other kids, he made the "stupid decision" to drink with them, which was all his fault. He is embarrassed about what he did and how it made his parents feel. He looks you in the eye and tells you that he’ll never do something like that again.
The second student first denies ever being in trouble. When pressed, he admits that he was accused of drinking, but claims he should not have been punished because he didn't actually purchase the alcohol. He also says that the school shouldn’t have jurisdiction for things that happen off school grounds. He didn’t serve any suspension because his parents met multiple times with the vice principal and the counselor. They threatened legal action if the school reported his transgression to colleges. He’s not contrite and takes no responsibility.
Which student would you trust to take your daughter to the prom?
Which student do you think colleges would trust to take a spot on campus?
A student’s response to a disciplinary violation will color how people–and colleges–weigh the infraction.