A Plea, I Think, To Be Understood.

Today, in response to my own desire to look at some old papers, and to amuse my youngest sister, I downloaded files from high school and college from a back up CD onto my mac. It's been interesting looking back through them: I realise that I was a pretty decent writer even in late high school, though my writing style has been refined a great deal over the course of the last few years; indeed, I now feel comfortable writing in multiple styles. Anyway, I thought I'd share some pieces and excerpts that I've found most interesting today, though I realise that some of my readership may not be as intrigued as I. Don't feel obliged to read the work of my younger self.

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First, a poem from January 2004, second semester of my senior year of high school. Not sure what I wrote it for, but it was saved in my "AP English" file.

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Mistakes

I am the intelligent one;

Everybody knows my name.

You say I’m perfect—

I always get such good grades.

You think I’ve got everything going for me—

Life couldn’t get any better.

You never expect me to mess up;

No one thinks I make mistakes!!

And you’re probably right—

You won’t see me make many mistakes.

Not because I’m so perfect—

I have to work for my grades, too.

Not because life is so easy—

Sometimes I wonder if it’s all still worth it.

Yes, I do mess up; I make mistakes.

I’m just afraid to let you see the real me!!

Someday, maybe you’ll figure it out—

I’m not that different.

I live on the same planet as you do,

And surprisingly enough, we deal with the same kind of junk.

Yes, I’m good (okay, sometimes really good) at some things,

But so are you.

Just remember, everyone’s different; everyone’s special—

And everyone makes mistakes. . . .

Yes, everyone!!