2:57 AM

A long blank stare towards the ceiling

When would it end?

When would you sleep?

The answer?

Never.

2:58

The ticking of the clock doesn’t help.

You have school tomorrow.

What’s wrong with you?

2:59

Crumpled paper in your hand

A big fat F in red marker

Condescending stares down your path

3:00

Its name is Anxiety.

Fear and worry twisted into one.

An experience for all.

However,

It doesn’t make anybody feel big.

On the contrary,

It makes us feel small.

First entering middle school,

We approach a whole new world.

We are trying to either fit in

Or stand out.

We want to be known and liked.

So a mask is placed

On our face

And we constrict ourselves.

Because that’s the only way that everyone will like you.

Because that’s the only way everyone will accept you.

But ask yourselves this

“If you aren’t fully yourself,

Do they really like you?”

You probably already know that answer,

Yet we still wear that mask.

So you question,

Maybe it’s just you.

So I think it’s all time we take a break

to take that mask off,

And whatever is underneath

Anxiety, Fear, Anger, Joy, or Grief.

That we allow ourselves to let it out

Every once in a while

And allow ourselves to smile.

Looking back on our middle school career

We know that all our friends, family, teachers, and peers

Will be here.

Hopefully you can overcome and accept those feelings inside.

And as the door to middle school closes and the door to high school opens

You can stride in with pride.