Submitted by yoshistar_123

Over and over again. They just keep on coming. Over and over again. Winter, spring and summer. Over and over again. There is no end to them.

I keep getting told everyday about my my past, my present and most importantly, the future that I have the power to change: my future.

School is ok sometimes. I enjoy it mostly. I think I'm an average student. I'm never called out too many times for awards in assemblies. I don't get the best of grades, however most of the time it's average. The friends I have are a small bunch (at least that's what I see them as) and they each have their quirks to them. I think I'm an ok student, in an ok school, wielding an ok life.

At least that's what I think!

Finals are in a year or so. They keep reminding me. They keep up with their stared, their scorns, their looks.

Everyday suddenly became one big nightmare for me. When they send those grade-gathers home, I can see their disappointed looks via my imagination. I feel their footsteps approaching me. I feel the pressure being put on me, like weights holding the hinges of my arms and legs. They speak. I feel the nonexistent rain of the world fall on me.

"It was ok so far. You need to work on these subjects next year, and don't lose sight of your weakness!"

They're not harsh, but I see them as harsh. I go to school next day and see the shadows of gloom all around me. I see the lucky ones- they look around and bask in the glory of all their good grades. I see the unlucky ones- their features are in sorrow, along with their reputation. I see the people who just got away- they go around their lives normally. I see me- the lucky one, who just can't look on the bright side of my grades.

I sit down in my first class. First up is maths. My teacher goes over our grades, shouting and stomping over the unluckiest, whilst simultaneously praising and skipping over the lucky ones. Then there's me: the one in between. I feel out of place.

I then exit, along with everyone else, and go through English class. Same old story. Shouting, stomping, skipping, praising, it all continues. Then there's me, who feels all over the place.

My bad lessons pass by; my good lessons pass by. Everything happens so fast, that when lunch rolls over me, I feel squashed. They chat. They laugh. They feel sad, or happy. But the worst part of it all, my friends ask me about my scores. The walls to freedom cave in on me. I can't reply.

We head home after school. Our teachers give us a big speech about what we should be doing over the holidays coming up soon. Everyone ignored it- everyone expect from me ignores it. I walk back, with a friend. They chatter and clatter, happily along the street. Then I head home.

When I arrive, I put my bag back. My elders notice me. They speak.

"Welcome home. You exited for break?"

I reply gleefully, yet I drag myself to my room and sit by my desk. Revision, studying, work, it does not matter what they call it, because it feels inevitable.

You never know how to do it. Your just told to do it. When we do it, we somehow learn stuff, only very slowly. The laughter of the telly calls you, laughing and begging for your return from last night. But yet, we all continue with our studies.

We're expected to do so much in life. We look at the ones below us, and feel scared. Then the cheery blue sky crumbles, the green leaves of nature wilt, and the gentle winds cease. You feel your happiness deteriorating. You realise:

Stress. I have it.

I am stressed out. So much time, feels like so little. But we continue to work, like slaves. We want a future, so we ruin our past and present for it. The wait feels agonising, the wait feels stressful.

It's ok...
It's ok...
Just a little longer...
A year left...
Then finals...
Then stress over results...
Then more agony over my next tests...
The cycle continues...
Over and over...
Stress...