I'm growing up in a world where it's not cool to be cool

Where it's hip to be hipster, an ever-changing rule

Every day I come to school with a bag full of masks,

Switch up which one I'm wearing between every class

Around some friends I play it cool

But not too cool or it's douchey

And then around all my teachers

I'm super shy and moody

 

But the real me is behind the mask the whole time

Been chilling here long enough, it's like I'm living a lie

I've been brought up to respect, might as well be denial

It's called mitigated speech, Malcolm Gladwell style

 

Most people don't know the real version of me

My filters are like mirrors, project what they want to see

I might come off as Superman, oh so high and flying

When I'm probably closer to L. Baum's Cowardly Lion

We all just trying to fit in, isn't that what I want?

If acceptance is the prize then we're all in the hunt

College is my biggest goal but I could do without the pressure

I'm in the search for Mrs. Right if I'm lucky I can catch her

 

I'm a different kid than I'm perceived as 

I'm an author, a guitarist

I'm a runner and a leader 

Aspiring to make it farthest

 

I work out every day

And build models on the weekends

Who cares if it seems nerdy

I do it all for a reason

 

I really want to go to college

Become a doctor or an architect

For now I'll focus on getting there

And not worry about what happens next

 

Imagination's in my nature, just finished writing a story

I write 'cause it's fun and it never gets boring 

If I turned off the filters in every selfie I take

I'd be holding a pen instead of flexing with weights

 

If I'm worried about what they think then where's the room for me?

I'm the one who has to live with me for all eternity

It's time I burn the masks and let the real me shine through

One day I'll look back and say, "You were the best version of you"

 

I'm the best me that I could hope to be

And I can say with authenticity

That once I get out and break free

The sky's the limit for what I could be