I don’t normally need disclaimers on my poems, but I’m going to add one to this. This isn’t knocking teachers, or students or sports. It’s not knocking college or degrees or good jobs or success… its not knocking anyone. It’s simply about the expectations of society placed on our younger generation and carried on through to everyone. You may read it and find something that makes you angry or makes you think what I’m saying isn’t fair…I’d ask that if that happens you take a step back and realize the words don’t apply to everyone everywhere, but they do apply to someone, somewhere.

The race began and you could barely crawl
Faster they shouted, don’t stumble don’t fall
Hit each checkpoint one by one
Don’t skip around, can’t start THIS til THAT is done
You’re being critiqued so do as we say
The answers not right unless you do it this way
You’re falling behind keep up with the group
You need to be aligned, a uniform Troup
Its not Knowledge that’s power but the letter grade
Yet you just need a D to stay in the parade
Play in sports to earn admiration
Score score score to build a reputation
Finding the IN crowd and getting a place
Ensures you’re noticed and helped in this race
You’ll be tested to see where you rank
Do real good and it’s money in the bank
Success is measured in dollars and cents
You’ll learn everything except common sense
Critical thinking? We don’t have time
Figure it out when it’s on your own dime
Go to college get a degree
get a job get a title get money money money
When this race is over you’ll see how it’s scored
Then you can join the masses to be shunned or adored
Character and integrity take a back seat
The world wants to see money under your feet
Before you know it you’re in another race
Keeping up with the Jones’ trying to save face
And race after race did you ever get time, to explore, to choose?
What makes you happy, what do You want to do?
Is your success measured by the happiness inside
Or are you leaving it for someone else to decide?