They told me to be

I was what they told me

What else could I do

I was young and small

They were old and tall

They told me I was smart

before I even entered school

I believed them!

I excelled! 

but then they were taken away

and I was told to be with someone else

and who I was changed

They told me  I was useless!

I was a slut

I was deserving of the abuse!

And I was because they told me to be

because they were strong 

I entered school

and they became many.

They became teachers

my "educators"

they told me I was going to turn out like my mom!

I was the reason other failed 

I was the spawn of satan himself!

and I was because they told me to be

because they were many

This time I was taken away

by men in uniforms with cars and flashing lights

They told me I was damaged!

I was a victim 

I was defenseless!

and I was because they told me to be

because they had authority

I was given to one of them

They told me I was a survivor!

I was smart 

I was special!

and I was because they told me

because they were the first person I thought loved me

Then the first who believed in me,

the one they took away,

came back to me.

They said I was their daughter!

I was wanted

I was cherished!

and I was because they told me to be

because I loved them

But as I grew

they, The educators, asked me who I was

and I began to realize

I was who they wanted me to be

and I decided to change

I became who I thought I was

I was smart

I was strong 

I was caring 

I was lazy

and who I was became who I am

and who I am

can not be affected

by what they want me to be

because who I am

is so much stronger

than I ever was

At first I was who I was

because they told me to be

but now I am who I am

because I know

who I was is always changing

and who I will be is always unknown

but who I am is who I want to be

and who I am is the present me

and the present me is strong 

It no longer matters what

they tell me to be

because they are always changing 

and they never agree

but what I tell myself never changes

and that alone puts power to my words