The dreaded four letter word

Boom, boom, boom, boom,

My eardrums won’t stop pounding.

My heart beats faster and faster 

As my adrenaline is pumping.

Deep breathes is what I tell myself

Before I walk into the classroom.

Through the door to a seat 

I find a desk at the back of the room.

I pull out my pencil from my bag

While telling myself to do your best.

I look up and meet my teachers gaze

As she says “ok kid here’s your test”.

It’s not the fear of school itself

But these times when the pressures on.

That gets my palms sweating and

And causes me to find my zone.

You see all the nervousness leaves 

When I take my mind somewhere else.

A place that only I can visit

When I need to find faith in myself.

Even though other people face 

The same fear and struggle as me.

I’m sure they keep it locked inside

Just as I do so no one can see.

And when finally it’s over and done

The outcome is once again the same.

Aced it without any trouble

Didn’t miss a question, won the game.

As you see it’s the build up 

That gets to me even though I’m ready.

But once my mind finds that place 

My nervous twitch becomes steady.

If I had to give advice to others

Who fear a test like I always have.

It would be to find that special place and

The confidence you didn’t know you had.