Inferior

How did you overcome one of your fears, and what did you learn from the experience?

I feel inferior

                When my peers score significantly higher on every subject,

I feel inferior

                When the athletes dwarf my puny stature and I can’t catch up to my friends in sports,

I feel inferior

                When I take my shirt off and look in disgust at my acne-laden back,

I feel inferior

                When I’m constantly reminded of my poverty in one of the richest cities in Florida,

I feel inferior

                When I’m constantly stereotyped and chastised for being Vietnamese

I feel inferior

When I’m constantly reminded of my loneliness when watching friends socializing without me on social media

I feel inferior

                Because I can’t help comparing myself to the achievements of others

But I know that

                My peers occasionally score lower than I do

But I know that

                I can beat all of my friends in table tennis

But I know that

                Everyone is insecure about their looks

But I know that

My parents, despite their income, have forged some of my most cherish bonds- something that not even money can build

But I know that

                Those stereotypes about me eating dogs and cats aren’t true at all

But I know that

                I’ll always have my brothers and parents to hang out with

But I know that

                It’s impossible to quantify and compare achievements among my peers

And I know that

                I’ve never really been inferior to anyone- I only feel that way