They tell us to work hard
To do our homework
To get involved
To study hard
To get a job
To go out with friends
They tell us to volunteer
To get ten hours of sleep
To eat healthy
To exercise daily
To join clubs
To get a job
They want us to test well
To ace the quiz
To understand and not memorize
To have everything in on time
They say this is what colleges look for
And that if we want a job this is what we have to do
They say math and science is the way to go
And anything else doesn’t pay
What they don’t tell us is key.
They don’t tell us to take it slow
How growing up isn’t what it is cracked up to be
They don’t tell us to spend time with our family
They don’t tell us how to be good friends and community members
Or how to balance a checkbook
Or do our taxes
They don’t tell us that it’s okay not to understand
That it is not the end of the world if you fail a test
That your GPA doesn’t define who you are
And what is on paper doesn’t equate to your worth.
They don’t tell us how important it is to push ourselves
To do what we love
To explore what we want to learn
They don’t tell us to get up and travel
To go outside and enjoy the beauty around us.
To trust our gut
And how to communicate.
They didn’t even mention how short childhood is.
They didn’t let us fully immerse ourselves in it.
Instead we were taught from a young age to work harder
Aim higher and to be successful
That the end goal is to be smart and get into college
All while maintaining a well balanced life.
They told us what we should be but never explained how.
So what happens when we reach the end?
When there are no more tests to study for
And no more homework assignments due.
We no longer have to ask to go to the bathroom
But we are expected to go out on our own
To go to that college, rent that apartment, and land that job.
There’s no one there to tell us what to do.
How to do it.
Or why we should.
They didn’t tell me colleges would turn me down.
That my plan wouldn’t work.
I did everything they said to do.
I didn’t take it slow.
I rushed it.
I wanted nothing more than to get to the finish line.
But here I am at the end
I did what they said to do.
I did what I wanted to too.
I wish they would’ve mentioned some of these things.
Regardless I’ve learned what is important
And what is not.
I no longer accept what I am told
But rather learn and experience.
If they taught me anything
It is to listen to myself.