Dealing with a crisis is never fun. If you've been falsely accused of sexual misconduct, you're dealing with a bigger crisis than most. In all likelihood, you feel completely blindsided by the allegation. You may be confused, frustrated, angry. Then there's the problem of dealing with the accusation: responding to questions from campus police, or the Title IX Coordinator, or the Dean of Students. You have to explain the situation to your parents. The people around you, maybe even the entire campus community may have heard about the case, and even your closest friends may have begun to doubt you. The school might even be trying to temporarily suspend you while it investigates the charge. It's a lot.
If you're facing a crisis like this, take a deep breath. Then call attorney Joseph D. Lento. With experience defending students in hundreds of disciplinary cases just like yours, he can help take much of the burden off your shoulders.
Once you've done this, take a moment to consider what you might take from this negative experience. Remember: you're innocent. With legal help, you will be exonerated. In the meantime, a crisis can be a learning opportunity. How can you make the best of this difficult situation?
Hone Some Practical Skills
At a minimum, a crisis like this one presents an opportunity to improve two important practical life skills. First, it should give you practice at time management. Joseph D. Lento will handle the big stuff, but you're going to have to make time for interviews, gathering evidence, maybe even preparing for a hearing. Try to remind yourself that learning to balance these demands will serve you well as a student and down the road in your career.
Second, a crisis very quickly teaches you to prioritize. You may find, for instance, that you don't have time to go to the big game this weekend. You might even have to drop a class or two in order to give more attention to your case. It's never easy to make sacrifices, and the fact that you're being asked to make them isn't fair. Still, learning to make them will give you valuable experience in recognizing what's most important to you. This won't be the last time in your life you're asked to sacrifice, and now you'll know what should come first and what you can let go of.
Learn About Yourself
You're still young, and you have a lot to learn about yourself. A crisis can help bring your life into focus.
For one thing, you will quickly learn what you're best at. When your back is against a wall, often your best self comes out. It may be, for instance, that you have a gift for remaining calm under pressure. Maybe you're especially good at explaining yourself clearly to others. Or perhaps, when under stress, you are amazing at getting things organized. Whatever it is, celebrate it, and know that the next time you're under fire, you'll have these skills to fall back on.
At the same time, a crisis will let you know exactly what weaknesses you may have. Are you easily rattled by pointed questions? Do you have trouble multi-tasking? This may be a chance to work on some of those weaknesses, to make yourself a better person. It's also important, though, to know your own limitations. None of us is perfect at everything. Recognize what you're good at, but learn to let others help you with what you're not.
Finally, though, a crisis can put what's most important to you into sharper focus. You may be asked to make tough choices, and that's not fair. But doing so may lead you to better understand yourself, your own values, and who you want to be.
Larger Life Lessons
You may not be ready to learn some of the larger life lessons that this crisis will teach you, but we all have to learn them sooner or later. Know that learning them now will make you a better person in the long run.
- First and foremost, crises are unavoidable. Over the course of your life, you'll face many challenges, and many of them, like this one, won't be your fault. The stock market falls; companies downsize; friends let you down. The question isn't how to avoid problems. It's how you can turn them into positive stepping stones by learning to deal with them effectively.
- You need other people, and we all need each other. You can't handle this situation on your own. You need a professional attorney like Joseph D. Lento by your side, for example, to fight for your rights. You'll also need support from your friends and your family. You may be reticent to let others help; many of us are. Now is the time, though, to realize that none of us can make it on our own. We all need each other to get through tough challenges.
- Empathy is one of the most important qualities anyone can have. You're facing a terrible situation that's not of your own making. You may be tempted to get angry at how life is treating you, and you have a right to feel that way. Let this situation teach you, though, that when you're on the outside of a situation, you don't always know the truth. Be grateful for those who show you empathy now, and as you go forward in life, offer the same kind of empathy to others.
You Are Not Alone
You don't deserve what's happening to you. But dealing with this crisis will give you valuable experience for dealing with the next one that comes.
Having someone by your side, fighting along with you, will help as well. Joseph D. Lento is an expert on Title IX and sexual misconduct cases. He understands the bureaucracy of academic institutions and knows the strategies for getting you the rights you deserve. He'll make sure your case is fairly resolved.
For more information, contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
