I’ve always been the smart girl

The high achiever, gifted, talented.

Words of affirmation and the first one done,

my life

Special higher-level reading groups

I read all of Harry Potter in second grade.

I was convinced someday, I was going to be someone,

I used to keep track of the people who told me I would be an author

In third grade, I read “The Westing Game”

Thinking someday, someone will read my books

The praises and affirmations stretched me until I snapped in half,

And now that it’s not so impressive to read big books and use big words

I have nothing to hide behind.

Because if not a smart girl, I am nothing.