Look I know you were all our age once,

but the funny thing is that things change.

One missing assignment.

Our way of life couldn’t be any different,

the social norms put more weight on us than they ever did on you.

Two missing assignments.

Starting the day is the hardest part,

Deciding to get up shouldn't be this difficult.

As we get ready for the day we stress,

Three missing assignments.

Oh but I forgot stress is normal.

But is it normal to feel like you can’t breathe,

Like you’re being suffocated as you walk into the building.

Four missing assignments.

Everyday is a new nightmare,

Not the ones that you wake up to,

But the ones that keep you up,

The ones that never leave.

Five missing assignments.

The due dates rack up,

Leaving us with wounds that never heal.

Trying our best,

But our best never makes the cut.

Six, seven, eight missing assignments.

Zeros upon zeros like it’s our mantra,

Work piles up as we break down.

When will it ever be enough?

Ten missing assignments.

I given up,

There really is no difference.

I try and fail or I just don’t try at all,

Same result.

We start choosing ourselves over hours of homework.

We start sleeping more,

We start focusing on ourselves.

And for that we’re called “slackers”,

Or lazy.

Eleven missing assignments.

So we cut down on sleep,

Spend less time on ourselves.

Ten missing assignments.

We stop eating and drinking.

We stop taking breaks.

Nine missing assignments.

We stop doing the things we love.

Eight missing assignments.

We stop being social.

Seven missing assignments.

We stop living.

Six missing assignments.

But it is never,

Enough.