Digital publication | Page 23

Sometimes with my friends, I feel  as though I must be the mature and silent one that keeps their cool.  Always.  But sometimes, I want to laugh and have fun. I want to be able to talk freely, not feeling the need to fill an invisible role. I want to enjoy classes and not worry over my grades. I'm not just "the smart kid"! 

  

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Of course, do not take everything too lackadaisically. Try to do the best you can. However, a lot of people will benefit by remembering to slow down and think about why you strive to be someone else’s version of who you should be. 

 

The story I told may seem a little trivial, but it was an experience I reflected upon and grew from. To this day, I still opt out of competitions, afraid that I will take it too seriously again. But I've been learning not to care. If you take anything  away from this story, especially if you are still a student in our ever-changing  education system, I hope you remember to enjoy the wonders of life without stressing to meet everyone's unspoken expectations.