This past year has been full of questions
That I'm not sure how to answer
Like "find the area between two curves using integration"
Or "what do you want to be when you grow up?"

I should have been trained to say
Engineer or doctor or professional parent
Like the rest of the broken records
Of this wretched and broken system

I did the best that I could, but alas
My name will never be printed
In glossy articles about academic accomplishments
Because I was too busy enjoying my days off

And I know I could have used that time
Scoring top grades or learning how to succeed
Instead, I spent my weekends discovering
How to live my life with love and compassion

I’ve barely gained anything from
Dingy walls and worn-out textbooks
Most of my wisdom is gathered from experiences
Like camp-wide bonfires and lazy Saturday afternoons

I have gone from counting blocks to
Counting the days until I get out
Twelve years is too long to be
Trapped in a web of conformity and busy work

Most people care more about building their resume
Than they do about building character
Intending on scoring corporate jobs at 22
So that they can buy their way into happiness

I refuse to be comfortable in a society
Of overstuffed schedules and constant competition
One day, I hope we will not memorize facts
But rather learn how to create, inspire, and be content