10th Grade Poem by Dashaun Rashod Snipes

In the tenth grade, I felt a weight
Of difficulty, I couldn't escape
Public education, a battle to face
A journey I never thought I'd embrace
Rumors spread like wildfire
Whispered words, fueling the fire
I couldn't escape their cruel grasp
In a sea of judgement, I was trapped
But that wasn't the worst of my plight
For there were dream assassins, ready to fight
Against my aspirations, my hopes and dreams
Tearing them apart at the seams
Bullied and walked on, I felt so small
In a system that didn't care at all
My voice unheard, my pain ignored
My spirit slowly becoming more and more sore
Testosterone and estrogen, a twisted dance
Creating united fronts to end my chance
Of being accepted, of feeling alright
Their power, a constant fight
But in the midst of all this chaos
I found my strength, my inner boss
I stood tall, despite the storm
My resilience, a force to be reckoned with, in full form
And though tenth grade was a daunting ride
It taught me to never run and hide
To rise above the noise and strife
To embrace my uniqueness and shine bright
So here's to tenth grade, a chapter to tell
A journey of struggle, but oh so well
For it molded me into who I am today
A warrior, ready to face whatever comes my way.


Authorship by Dr. Dashaun Snipes
©️ Dr. Dashaun Snipes
®️ 10th Grade