This past year, this preceding year

School became different

School was not the same

It became harder

It became challenging

It became stressful

It became long

It became all these things

This past year

 

School at the end of the year,

Now lacks resemblance to the beginning of the year

School has renewed itself

And raised the wall of success

School has creeped in

Further into home

School has unloaded the burden

Of stress and challenges

 

What was considered difficult at the beginning

Was considered simple at the end

What was considered burdensome at the beginning

Was considered simple at the end

What was considered successful at the beginning

Was considered falling short of it at the end

School has reached its way across the year

Into Summer, into Thanksgiving, into Christmas

School has walked into my life,

From bearing positivity

To bearing negativity

 

My mind is made to think

At almost a daily basis

Do I have other assignments?

How late would I have to stay up?

Do I have all the things I need to wear?

How can I fix my grade?

School has devoured

Time for sleep and time for pleasure

School has brought worry and fear,

And the idea that not everything is obtainable

School has open up the door

Of anxiety and pressure

School has transform itself,

From a place of enjoyment

And the love of learning

To a place of dread

And the fear of grades

 

The things I need,

The tasks I do

Have grown

without a change

In time

School has brought in

The difficulties of life

The difficulties of others

The difficulties of success

Which I have never before felt

Or

Have never before imagined

Or

Have never before believed

 

This past year

School has impacted me

It has strained me

It has troubled me

It has strengthen me

School has impacted

My thoughts of others

And my thoughts of life

School has done all these things

This past year