Dear Brooks School community,

I am writing to petition in support of hopefully earning a Brooks School diploma. On the evening of March 31, 2018, I made the regrettable decision of drinking alcohol while on campus. I was caught with a flask in my possession, which contained trace amounts of alcohol, for which I immediately took responsibility. However, I did not initially own up to consuming any alcohol, and for that I am truly sorry. I was frightened and I panicked. For my actions, and because this was my second drinking violation, I was asked to withdraw from the school or otherwise be dismissed.

Without a doubt, I was wrong and I deserved to be punished. However, I would like to ask the school to reconsider their final decision for a few reasons:

I was chosen to be a school prefect because of my solid body of work and good character over the last three and a half years. My prior offense gave me the opportunity to offer the prefect board a different perspective.
Through my academics, athletic achievements, and positive social standing, I have made significant contributions to the life of the school. I was proud to serve as a mentor to my younger peers.
My first offense occurred during my freshman year and I have been in positive standing until now. I took so many lessons from that experience and I shared those lessons with students across campus who I noticed were headed in the wrong direction. Sharing my story has steered many people in a better direction, than that in which they were headed.
The Discipline Committee was not given the opportunity to weigh in on my latest situation, thus not allowing my violation to be fairly reviewed.

I am well aware of the school’s two-strike policy when it comes to a violation of a major school rule. I am in no way attempting to undermine the integrity of the school nor rewrite the school’s policies. Ultimately, I am looking for my punishment to be reduced to a suspension for the remainder of the year with the ability to receive a diploma for the reasons stated above. One of Brooks’ six core values is compassion. I am asking that the school take a compassionate stance for a young man who made a mistake, but who has also given back to the school in meaningful ways.

Thanks for your consideration,

Jaylen Cromwell