Every year I was ready 

Advancing as quickly as I could

Everything planned for ten years away 

Bringing home tests was exciting

Another opportunity to make my parents smile

Every grade was exactly as expected

But eventually

What had been confidence turned into selfconsciousness 

Self worth was measured on a scale of 0 to 100

Joy was a letter at the beginning of the alphabet 

Every minute I spent 

Wondering how I could be better

How I could stand out

I couldn't let it cross my mind

That the failure I had been running from all my life

Could eventually shatter my future