I used to be from selfishness, from not sharing,

from not understanding others well, yet not caring,

learning and studying by myself at the library.

I used to be from working and thinking on my own,

from refusing help from others, saying, “No, don’t.”

“I don’t need you, I can take on this world alone.”

I used to be from focusing on saying “you’re wrong,”

from thinking “doubt me, I dare you all,”

not realizing none of them wanted me to fall.

Not realizing they weren’t hoping I would fail,

not realizing they didn’t want my dreams to derail,

not realizing some of them were rooting for me as well.

I used to be from thinking of others as an opposition,

from viewing life as a competition,

and thinking the only thing important was one’s ambition.

But inevitably I failed and realized I was a fool,

I was living life the wrong way, and I knew

in order to succeed, I needed people around me too.

I’m now from teaming up to excel,

from realizing I can’t live in this world by myself,

knowing if I tried, I’d be overwhelmed.

I’m now from embracing others and what they say,

from building others up and hoping they do the same,

because there’s no reason we can’t be better than we were yesterday.