Homework and due dates

Just friends and best friends

Pressure and gossip

Cheaters and winners

Test scores and corrections

Puberty and our bodies

Fake and real smiles

Fitting in and sticking out

What’s in and what’s out

Why is there so much

Pressure resting on our shoulders?

Why is there so much

Expected of us?

Why do we struggle

When we could just slip under?

Why even try

If all that’s waiting is more?

Why do they say,

“It’ll be okay.”

Because it isn’t,

And never will be. . .

We’re tired of the homework,

The bullies and liars.

Peer pressure is straining us

As much as our grades.

Even though they say,

“I was in your grade too,”

They don’t really understand

Homework and due dates

Just friends and best friends

Pressure and gossip

Cheaters and winners

Test scores and corrections

Puberty and our bodies

Fake and real smiles

Fitting in and sticking out

What’s in and what’s out

Maybe someday we can

Grow out of this pain

Maybe someday we can

Learn to be strong

But right now,

Right now, it hurts

To be alive

Right now, it stings

When they insult us

Right now, it’s hard

To fake our laughs

But we are teenagers

And right now we’ll try

Because right now, we’re teenagers

And we’re staying alive.