A Poem From An Academic Burnout
When I was younger, I used to look out for the little guy
Give him the last dodgeball, hang out with him at recess
Now I care more about my reputation than about others
When I was younger, my teachers used to praise my intelligent brain
I used to read books, study hard, be eager to learn
Now I sit in class, daydreaming, wishing I was anywhere else but in the classroom
When I was younger, I begged my mom for more playdates with friends
For them to come over to my house, for us to meet at playground; anything
Now I ignore every text and call that goes through my phone because I don’t want to interact
When I was younger, I used to take such pride in my extra curricular activities
My acting and writing was everything to me
Now I doubt everything I do
When I was younger, I used to look into the mirror and think “Wow, I look amazing!”
I loved my hair, my skin, my clothes
Now I look into the mirror and say “How did I let myself become this ugly?”
Somewhere along the way I lost the heart that told me to help others
I lost the ambition to be amazing at school
I lost my extraverted talkative soul
I lost my pride and joy
I lost my beauty
So where did it all go?
And why can’t I find it? Because the only thing I can feel or think of right now is emptiness and deep depression
When I was younger, my smile used to light up a room
I used to entertain and talk for hours
Now I sit alone in the darkness
-An Academic Burnout