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

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

And while there are certain times and places

that we must remain appropriate

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

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