By Cheryl Mattox Berry
If you think rules are made to be broken, just ask basketball great Michael Jordan. He was recently called out for not wearing the proper golf attire at a private country club in South Florida. Jordan wore cargo shorts instead of golf shorts or pants. When a club staffer told Jordan that his pants violated the dress code and asked him to change, Jordan refused. The club asked him to leave.
Needless to say, he’s no longer welcomed at that club. And he shouldn’t be. If you can’t follow the rules, you can’t play. It doesn’t matter who you are. Being an NBA champion doesn’t qualify you for a special pass. The same holds for you. It doesn’t matter if you’re the most popular girl in school or that your parents have high-powered jobs. You must obey the rules, too.
Every institution – school, workplace and military – has rules. They’re put in place for uniformity, guidance and order. Without them, there would be chaos. Imagine what your school would be like if students showed up when they felt like it, talked on their cell phones during class, went to the cafeteria when they got hungry and left class when they got tired of listening to the teacher. It would be a big, loud mess, that’s what.
It takes some students a minute to get the rules, especially when it comes to cell phone use and the dress code. I’ve seen girls show up in short shorts and stomach-baring tops. Many of them get this sense of entitlement from their parents, who argue that their child should be allowed to express her individuality. Thankfully, school officials are pretty consistent about enforcing the dress code, sending students home or giving them in-door suspensions for repeated violations.
Although you may think you’re smart enough to skirt the rules, eventually, you’ll get caught. Then, you must suffer the consequences. Can you handle that?