Growing Up

"Work-hard!" my mind chants,

"make something of yourself!" my inner aspiration encourages.

Sweat pours down my face,

my legs ache, my ab muscles moan, and my heart beats fast. 

"Hard-work is what it takes," I tell myself. 

My coach pats me on the back, I know why he does this. 

He wants me to know how much he can tell I have improved,

"hard-work," I explain. 

I work hard, not just for myself, not just for my family, 

not just for my dreams and goals and to make something of myself while my friends aren't,

not to get ahead of the game, and not to brag about my accomplishments,

but mostly to feel like I have succeeded for myself. 

And let me tell you, "hard-work" pays off.