Apparently all kids must be beyond exceptional according to society, these expectations give us anxiety
They used to praise us for trying our best even without pure success
So we have always acknowledged that advice before we take a test, while the teacher says, “good luck, I hope I’m impressed”
Now, even if we take that advice, the results will never suffice.
We get them back and they all say “fail”, and students feel as if they’ll never excel
Such a sudden change, students are failing and distraught; adults punish us, claiming we are not doing what were taught
This curriculum is new; it requires real world applications, but we went from direct to paragraphed questions, there are so many complications!
But for us, under our belts are 11 years of learning, the new format for us is concerning
Because we try our best and our results are the worst, and we’re no longer praised, but instead cursed.
Cursed and told we’ll never be successful, so we stay up all night studying with our paper and pencil
Again we’re told, mental stability and health comes first, but the need to prove ourselves has the roles reversed.
Every teacher claims assignments of 1 to 2 hours, so we get home, and finish our work, giving us minimum time to even shower.
Humans, creatures that are naturally social, are denied even that because we have no time at our disposal
The hours we’re expected to sleep is 8, as well as the homework we’re given, and we’re punished for being five minutes late?
Not only academics are we worried about, but most kids join sports to make their parents proud.
So now we have homework, school, socializing, sports and health and they want us to do everything ourself
We’re criticized because to finish our work we are up til dawn, and in class punished if we can’t catch on
If we ask our teachers to relax on our tasks, they give us a sarcastic look as if saying, “why would you even ask?”
They assume we’re being lazy and that our work needs to be prioritized, but when we speak the truth and say it is, apparently we’re lying and we are scrutinized
Unfortunately grades are more important to our superiors than comprehension, but if we get caught cheating the consequences are home suspension.
We weren’t even given a gray area to adjust, because apparently since we’re older, it should be easier for us if we try our best.
That is not true and once again the system cycles, and because we are not given the help we need each of us are heading in downward spirals.
Our curriculum went directly from black to white, there’s no longer the hopeful beacon of light.