I always thought a lot about my days there.  

There with the grey circles and led pencils.

I thought about how they’ll reflect my future,   

And influence those around me's opinion.    

 

They would tell me they're not proud; they would tell me they've heard better.

So that every time I closed my eyes, I'd see grey instead of glitter.

 

I'd let tutors call me stupid, and I'd let myself grow tired. 

I'd stay up hours just to study, but in my heart there was a fire. 

I doodled on my notebooks—in the lessons I knew bored me.

I took tests that I would fail, 'less I took classes, paid the money. 

 

So I learned to hide this light that rested deep inside my heart,

But I felt it singe and felt it die, as I slowly broke apart—

 

What was I doing there? Taking into account their opinions? 

 

They labeled me into the hundreds.

They tested me on all those numbers.

They took my money and my time, and worked me in till I was blind,

Of anything unique, and of everything that's mine. 

Oh, how they tried to standardize my mind. 

 

For months I filled my head with mindless tricks and useless facts.

I wasn't good at numbers, yet that was what was always asked.

Where were the questions on philosophy? On stories, art, and harmony?

 

I had to hide my love for art—they told me it was dumb. 

Test results all told me that I wasn't good enough.

I hated how I felt,  and how I let numbers define me. 

Within my burning Self, I felt—I knew—something was missing!

 

There was so much to my brain—to my life, and to my heart. 

I focused on what made me happy, not on what should make me smart. 

I drew in journals, I wrote poems; I wrote stories, I wrote songs. 

The light within began to grow, and I found myself grow strong. 

 

And so,

I now am my own person—not a letter, or number.

I'll never again let myself be so blind....

I am a human, full of warmth and emotion.

Not someone who's mind can be standardized.

 

It's unique, original, and least of all grey. 

I champion my soul so artistic, and bright.

I'll glory in my mind's eclectic bouquet.

It's shining in glitter, and bursting with light.