I was raised in a different world
Surrounded by my mother’s immeasurable love.
The kind of love that catches me when I fall
The kind of love that supports me when I need to cry
The kind of love that never ends.

I was raised in a different world
Betrayed by jealousy between friends.
The kind of friends who abandon me when I need them most
The kind of friends who forget me
As if I’ve never existed
The kind of friends who make me grow up and see
What the real world is like.

I was raised in a different world
Overwhelmed by academic pressure.
Working ‘til midnight each day
and battling for first place
As if I’m being suffocated
The kind of pressure that teaches me
to accept nothing short of perfection.

I was raised in a big city
Filled with neon lights and skyscrapers
Subway stations and night markets
Cars honking and people yelling
The kind of city where you try to blend in
Hoping nobody would notice.

I was raised in a different world
by the kind of hope that may change your life forever
Or bring you down the valley of disappointment
The kind of hope that lights up the world
Like diamonds in the sky.

I was raised in a different world
through tears and smiles
Saying goodbye with misty eyes
Like bittersweet chocolate that melts on your tongue.
But as I stand in the spotlight of success
All I could see is my differences
Reflecting back at me.

I was raised in a different world
that defines who I am today.
A world so unique
You can’t begin to imagine.