When I look around,
I see talent blooming everywhere
Classmates excelling in maths, others, delivering speeches confidently.
Words seem to flow out of their mouths, smoothly and fluently.
And yet, others are swift in sports. Flexibility and agility, just comes naturally.
Basketball, Volleyball, Football they play vigorously.
Friends, neighbours, cousins - the story is the same everywhere!
Everyone seems to be good at something or the other.
With each passing day I feel more and more pressure building…
Classwork seems more and more confusing.
More and more formulas, algebra and rules, logarithms and exponents.
Not to mention science with more and more research and experiments!
Sulfate, Sulfite, Sulfide, so many similar scientific names?
Periodic Table with its long list of elements…
All of it felt so large and huge, my brain was exploding.
I got lost in the maze of steps to follow,
Don’t know where to start and how to go about further.
Speaking was a task: My heart pounds, hands sweat, chest tightens.
My mouth goes dry, I start feeling numb.
I look around, all eyes staring at me
Not knowing what to say, I stand frozen.
Unable to move I wish to get swallowed into a pit
Alas! even when it comes to sports, the story repeats again
Physical activity I don't enjoy.
Feel suffocated, tired, nauseous and breathless.
It seems so unfair that everyone is talented and I am just me
What do they have that I don’t…
Everyone is clear about their passions,
But I just have no clue!
Then over a period of time, time, time,
It finally dawned on me that we are going through our own journey.
Life is never about being on a race
Each one has their own pace.
I don’t have to be like anyone,
I don’t have to follow anyone,
Because each one has their own pace.
I don’t have to be like anyone else.
But I need to be a better version of myself.
It’s important to keep moving on,
By taking one step at a time,
Even though I cannot fly, run or walk,
I should try to crawl
But whatever I do,
I have to keep moving on.
I have to believe in myself and be determined,
I have to keep my head held up high.
I have to conquer all my dreams and fears,
And strive to be a better version of myself!
--------------------------------------------------------------
Rachel Joseph is a Grade 11 student at the International School of Helsinki. She was born in Florida, United States of America, and has been living in Finland for the past 10 years.
