Many notions of "school" include a teacher who has authority and students who are expected to comply. This traditional outlook creates an environment where teacher directed curriculum and decisions are the norm. My study examines what happened when I shared authority with twenty-eight 8th grade students at High Tech Middle, a project-based charter school in San Diego, California. My journey started with building a cohesive classroom culture through activities and opportunities for student collaboration. By using a community meeting strategy called the "Friday Forum," I found classrooms cultures that embrace student voice empower students to develop a system of shared values and discuss difficult topics. My findings reveal the lessons in the challenges and potential in creating a cohesive classroom community.