As so many things often seem to,

The year begins with a command.

Tell us about yourself!

“An easy assignment, fifteen minutes at most”

And I have stared at it for an hour

10 sentences to define myself

Everything I stand for

The core of my being

14 years condensed

Into a fraction of a minute

What makes you special?

The printed ink seems almost mocking

I want to scream back at it;

Tell it that everything does:

Star Student

Gifted Child

Exemplary Essay Writer

Competition Winner

My titles, all of them

Some worn out from use

Written evidence of everything I am supposed to be

But I am also supposed to be honest

And these titles are not much of me

I’ll try again:

What makes you special?

Nothing in particular

A college reading level at an early age

Will mean nothing when I get to college

Exemplary essays will be an expectation

And winning competitions will be a necessity

How would you describe yourself?

Probably inaccurately.

My identity seems to fluctuate. 

But here’s what I’m told:

A sunny child,

With a bright future ahead of her

A bright mind,

But much too quiet 

Too stubborn

Too distant

Too quiet 

Too easily manipulated

Too overbearing

Too loud

A talented student,

Sure to move mountains one day

Smarter than appears,

But needs to improve performance

Not near social enough

Doesn’t often speak up in class

Gets along with teachers well

Participates often

Always distracted 

Never reaches full potential

Intently focused 

Gives consistent effort 

Just like her mother

Too much like her father

I am all of these things, 

Because who am I to tell them otherwise?

What’s your favorite thing about yourself?

I pause for even longer here,

Then hastily scribble out the answer:

No matter who I am today, I am trying.