High school.

The best (and the worst) years of our lives.

If you’ve never been to high school,

then you likely have no idea what it’s like.

You only know from expectations and stories.

But you don’t know what goes on,

behind these doors.

There’s things you don’t wanna see,

and things you wish you didn’t.

A whole new world that you may

regret ever stepping into.

You could be the ASB president,

or just a student that tries to avoid being noticed

so you won’t have to feel that sinking feeling of

being called on by the teacher at random.

You step into the messy and crowded bathroom,

the smell of sour vape filling your lungs,

taking the form of a monster

grasping at your throat,

suffocating you.

The labor of your efforts,

trying to keep at bay your anxiety

of turning in assignments late,

and studying for a test

you just don’t understand the material for.

You walk through the tight and noisy halls,

being pushed and shoved,

thrown against lockers

just to get to your next class.

But after everything you’ve witnessed

and pushed through,

there’s the thought of the graduation stage,

the bridge between childhood and adulthood.

It gives you the courage to keep moving,

to be able to walk that stage,

and finally breathe the fresh air outside.

You’ll make it.