VOX Teen Poetry: “Be Yourself”

I am who I am
Who else would I be?

I won’t change for you,
So why would you change for me?

When I was young I always wanted to change for myself.
Without the help and financial resources, I couldn’t do better for myself.

I want to go with my head, not to look down, but to look forward.
I can never fool myself.

I don’t have tolerance for the rude or racism and the homophobic.
I’ll admit my faults and I know you have yours.

Cheating yourself of the life you have to live.
Depriving others of what you can give.

Just know that your family and friends will love you more too,
If you just spent more time practicing being you!

So no matter what happened,
I want to say stay woke and have pride in yourself.