Expectations,
Standards,
Deadlines,
All wished to be met.

Plethora of worksheets,
Tests, 
Books,
All meant to complete.

Education,
Socialization,
come together as one.

Procrastination,
Hesitation,
Self Consciousness,
All submerged and intertwined.

Tears,
First Loves,
Laughs,
Teaching us who we are.

Harsh words,
Rude looks,
Threatening faces,
We see around school.

Teacher,
You have been here before.
Do you not remember the pain
that you feel walking down the hall?

You tell us to do our best.
We do.
Sometimes, we fail.
And you ridicule us for our nonfulfillment of your expectations.

Do you not see it?
The sleeplessness?
The lack of socialization skills?
The falling grades?

Do you not see how the
Expectations,
Standards,
and Deadlines,
are getting to our heads?

If not, I can show you.
The Zoloft,
Prozac,
Effexor,
Xanax,
Trazadone.
All medications I need to take
To deal with my day to day life.

Thanks to High School.