I’d just eat the punishment early on until I had built enough of a reputation that I didn’t really need to fight much anymore.
I had to do community service a few times because of fights.
I was always careful to maintain a balance though. Never started fights, never bullied, acted politely to teachers, kept my grades up, and participated on school events. Gave me a cushion of sorts to prevent the hammer coming down too hard.
Though I wasn’t always on my best behavior. Clashed with the school on dress code. Got caught by a janitor while getting a blow job in the bathroom. Stole the clock off the health class wall and put it on the roof. Inverted all the desktop screens in one of the computer labs. Wired my friends chair into a powersocket so it zapped him when he sat on it. Beaned a dumb chick in the head with a pen when she wouldn’t shut up in civics class. And probably some other shit I’m forgetting.
Good times.