Expect Nothing

By: Samantha P. M. (Class of 2028, Pinnacle Charter School), written with friends Giselle and Ashly

Everyone says to reach for the stars 

beyond that you’ll find your dreams and that fulfillment you long for

beyond that you’ll find the person you truly are to become 

perhaps your passion or your happiness

 so they say reach for the stars 

we reach and we stretch, we struggle our most to be like them

to become one of them, to fully succeed with no failure 

our role models they pave their way, they become the route of success 

parents expect nothing less, no room for mistakes we must all just be like them 

so we reach and we stretch to become one of them

in disguise we are them

in reality we are no one how is there to find an identity when yours is only pieces of them

they force it, they expect it, and they want it the American Dream we must all take a piece of it we ache to accomplish our goals 

we ache to change the world 

we ache to help people 

we ache to change our generational wealth 

we ache to become the best version of ourselves

but they don’t know, and they’re not aware the anxiety that invades our minds 

don’t tell them about our secrets they might ask why we cry 

so much pressure, yet sometimes it is not enough 

guilt and blame because it was for you 

guilt and blame because they took it for you 

nonetheless you must understand and learn from the past not the experience, that’s what’s best

settle for what you will have not for what you could have 

possibility was for the oldest not for the youngest 

so take a hold of what is forever and not for a moment 

so take a hold of something that is assuring follow their footsteps, the repetitive pattern follow your brothers and sisters 

don’t let the new opportunities gather and just like a toy this ones better, don’t risk it 

don’t put your future at stake, stay the same be the same and live the same 

no room for mistakes 

no room for our thoughts that roam 

no room for a difference

it’s our minds that paint scribbles in a beautiful portrait where they had just begun to think they had figured 

I am sensitive 

I am strong 

I am creative 

I want to be confident so let me just grab it 

I will follow through my own steps 

I will pave my way to my future and into my goals call it a fantasy but this is not a dream 

we will prove it to you.

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Samantha was one of Access Opportunity's Student Ambassadors throughout the 2023-24 school year. She worked on many different projects this year, but this essay represents her final work as an ambassador. To learn more about her, please visit her other blog post. We wish you luck in college, Samantha!