Lights on, mind on, I woke up to a brand new day;
became a new student in high school, educated
in a brand new way.
Friends came left and right, though I was awkward,
schoolwork was plentiful but not a challenge,
and everything felt familiar yet foreign, but nothing
I couldn’t manage.
Days and weeks and months flew by,
the year was over in the blink of an eye.

Lights off, mind off, fallen out of bed.
Walking through the early dark, but a metaphor
to how second year would feel as it
messed with my head.
Friends were harder to find, and some from before
left without warning or reason. Those who stayed
were helpful but the governing body hurt more.
Altercations and harassment were commonplace
conflicting with my academics; fighting back
was beyond my personal limits.

Step up, rise up, new year new me? The old me was
to be forgotten, pushed behind where it was meant to be.
Smoothly sailing through third year, taking on the
challenge.
Censored by the faculty, obstacles that were foreign to me,
pushing my limit while never going farther than I could
manage.
Out of the comfort zone and into the opportunistic sky,
it was all over in the blink of an eye.

Stood up, rose up, to the top of the hill
where senior year began.
The rollercoaster moved rapidly, but looking back, I
saw my friends again.
We rode through the year closer and stronger, though
bumps and obstacles gave us uncertainty.
Left and right through loops and flips, until closer to
the end we got.
A steeper hill of fond memories to cherish, lose them?
I would not.
The ride concluded on an open stage
with a roaring crowd.
We all got off dressed in blue, and I turned to
one friend and bowed.
A significant finale through times both
smooth and rough.
Someday, I’ll miss it more than now. But moving on from
it was tough.