Perceptions Are Deceptive

Book filled backpacks 

Schedule full of AP classes

Captain of the dance team

Volunteer at my local church

Look presentable, desirable to colleges

This has become my life 

Resumes and essays full of repetitive cliche 

Information you could find in any kid

You ask me 

"What makes me different?"

Absolutely nothing.

Like millions of other seniors I am selling myself 

For a chance to touch a corner of a dream

I am not what I type in my resumes 

Or long winded, final draft essays

Just like the other kids

I cry and yearn 

Wondering if all my hard work

Anti-climatic life thus far will pay off

I'm praying that 

All the times I turned down Saturday nights at house parties

Isn't in vain

All those times I didn't smile back at him

That time I told her I didn't love her 

I'm am hoping with all my heart 

My weekends spent studying

Doing extra credit assignments

Being the predictable bread and butter teen

Did not fail me

And I'm leaving my fate up to an envelope

Or an email 

How pathetic is that