When I was 7 with pigtails and innocence,

I told my mama I wanted to be a waitress.

She sighed that awful sigh of disappointment.

But I told her I was still figuring it out.

When I was 13 with  ambition,

I told my teacher I wanted to study math in college.

She rolled her eyes and suggested I choose another path,

As if I didn’t know my choices about my future.

But  I was still figuring it out.

When I was 15 with life and laughter,

I decided I wanted to be a history teacher,

But my friends told me it would be too hard,

So I told them I was still figuring it out.

When I was 16 with time running out,

My grandma asked what I was going to do.

I told her, “I wasn’t even close to figuring it out.”

With a furrowed brow “Ohhh…” slipped from her lips.

That’s when I realized others saw my future as disappointing.

When I was 17 with no hope and stress,

I just wanted to drop out,

But my conscious told me I had so much potential.

So I told myself I was still figuring it out,

That my future wasn’t going to be disappointing.

At 18 with eyes on the future,

Maybe I will be a waitress,

Maybe I will be studying math in college,

Maybe I will be studying history,

But if I don’t choose any of those paths-- then it’s okay

Because I’m still figuring it out.