Dreaming

Dear Education,

I was a kid

And you told me to dream

As long as it fit

Your mold

Your idea

Your restraints

I was a teen

And you told me I could be anything

As long as it fit

Your framework

Your ideals

Your restraints

I was a young adult

And you told me to make things happen

But don’t be too loud

And don’t be too brash

And don’t make too many waves

Constant reminders

To stay in my lane

I was a grown woman

And you told me to grow

And to succeed

And to thrive

As long as I didn’t

Get too angry

Get too loud

Feel too much

Be too big

You said that you taught me to dream

But then why don’t I know how?

I don’t trust myself

Because I don’t fit in

I am too angry

I am too loud

I am too much

You said that I could be anything

As long as I fit

But I don’t fit

And I can’t breathe in these restraints

So then what does that make me?