I’m in ninth grade and already watching tutorial videos
on how to get into Harvard.
I’m in ninth grade and can’t even
imagine the letter grade that comes after a failed test.
I’m in ninth grade and I am stressed out of my mind
that an A- is not going to get me into Harvard.

Life changed when
I walked into high school on the first day.
When I sat down at my desk
and was handed my first homework assignment.
When I went home and spent hours filling out
the worksheet that was supposed to take me ten minutes.

You set these standards for yourself
that eat at your sanity and make you forget what fun is.
These standards that make believe
you are worthless when you fail to meet them.
These standards that you set
because you read somewhere that Harvard students set the same ones.

But you’re not worthless. You’re not a Harvard student. And you’re only in ninth grade.