They don't understand. The teachers. They talk and talk and talk.

They talk about being able to talk to them. How you can trust them.

But they wouldn't really listen.

They smile and nod and throw in the "oh" or "go talk to a counselor"

They don't understand what it's like.

They say they know. That they were students before. That they know how hard high school is.

But they don't know what it's like for me. See I have a problem.

Being schizophrenic isn't easy, especially not for a student.

Being depressed isn't easy, especially not for a student.

There is so much taboo in schools about mental illness.

No one accepts it. Some say it's not a real problem. I say it is.

They wonder why you haven't done your homework.

You'd like to say that you had a knife to your wrists because the voices told you.

But of course you can't say that. Who would accept that?

They'd ship you off to the wacky shack again.

Oh and god forbid you actually go to the loony bin and get "help"

Missing two weeks of school while you're at it

You think you can tell them what's going on?

Hell no.

So you suffer on, screaming in silence.

Pay attention they say.

That's harder than it seems you know. When you have seven different voices

All of them saying different things but wait the teacher can't hear them

Therefore it's not real and isn't any excuse for not paying attention.

And don't get me started on the home situation

When your parents force you to take hard classes

They don't think you have these problems you see

They like thinking they have a perfect life

So you have to take the hardest classes and be the best in school

Not by your own choice but by theres

You are just a puppet you see on a string

Dancing to the tune that you can't hear

So before you say it's your own fault for taking hard classes

Think again.

So to all of those teachers out there that say they understand

Think hard about what people are going through

Not all of them are like you

There are those of us out there that have problems

Problems you can't see on the surface.

Maybe if you look closer and pay attention you might be able to see them

And maybe you'll see there's an individual with independent thought and life

Sitting in that desk in front of you.