One day, a kid came up to me and said,
"Hey Grace, what did you get on the science test?"
I replied saying,
"I got a 97%"
"Only a 97%?" the kid said. "You should have gotten a 100%,
Since you're a nerd."
And that’s when I started to think

Why am I the one that's the nerd?
We all have a brain
We all use our brains
We're all smart in our own ways
In different areas of life
So in a way,
Aren't we all nerds?

Our brains don't start out super smart
When we were born
We barely knew a single thing
We lived day by day
Using our brains to learn new things
Helping our brains grow
Not in size, but in knowledge
Learning back then was natural instinct
But things have changed

Now, there is so much more we can be doing
Instead of using our brains to learn
We have cell phones
And social networks
And TV shows
And parties
And relationships
And so much more stuff that takes us away
From using our brains to learn
It happens to everyone, not just some people

But some people still learn
While all these things are going on
These things that are distracting them from letting their brain grow
They use their brains
To redirect themselves from these distractions
And learn new things whenever they can
By learning, these people's brains grow
In knowledge, not in size

It's those people
The people that use their brains to learn
That are the 'nerds' in society
Because they know more than everyone else
But really,
They are only 'nerds'
Because they let themselves use their brains and learn
Unlike those other people
That let the distractions take them hostage

So when that kid told me I was a nerd
I just said to him
"I'm not a nerd,
I just use my brain more than others."

Hello? Are you there? I ask.
I need to talk, but no one is listening.
Just one quick second, and I will be finished,
But please just take a moment to hear my words.

If someone screams in the middle of the woods,
Is there anyone there to hear his cries?
Or are there only trees and rocks and things
That hear him yell and swallow his words
And prevent others from hearing his pain?

Hello? Are you there? I ask again.
I need to talk, but no one is listening.
I have some more to say about the way I feel,
So please listen and help me, for this one time.

If a star is alone in the vastness of space
Is there anything there to admire its shine?
Or is it destined to twinkle, isolated from others
While children sings songs and wish upon other stars
While this one is alone in the dark?

Hello? Are you there? I ask with urgency.
I need to talk, but no one is listening.
Just a few more words, please hear me out.
I'm dying to tell this to someone who cares.

I have tons of friends on Facebook
Plenty of email addresses to write to
And numerous numbers to text and call
But why do I still feel like I have no one to talk to?
Why do I feel so alone?

Hello? Are you there? I ask desperately.
I need to talk, but no one is listening.
I feel alone, like the world is against me,
And I need someone to understand me.
Today we have lots of ways to communicate.
Writing letter, typing emails,
Talking and texting on the phone,
Chatting on Facebook or other social networks,
Even plain old talking face-to-face talking.
But even with all these ways to talk to others,
Why are my words never heard?

Hello? Are you there? I ask with despair.
I need to talk, but no one is listening.
I'm starting to hurt more, feeling more alone
Waiting for someone to come along and say, "Are you okay?"

I feel like a dolphin swimming through the ocean
Using sonar sounds to locate other dolphins
But all the others are with each other
And none of them hear my calls
So I continue to swim alone in the sea
The vast, salty, cold ocean water
Hiding the tears coming out of my eyes

Hello? Are you there? I ask, crying out.
I need to talk, but no one is listening.
I'm tired of bottling my feelings up,
But there is no one else to tell them to.

Why can I be in a room full of people
Yet feel so alone at the same time?
Why do I give so much advice to others
Yet struggle to find someone who will listen to me?
Is it even worth trying to find an ear
To take in the words that come from my mouth?

Hello? Are you there? I ask in a whisper.
I need to talk, but no one is listening.
Hey, do you have some time to talk to me?
Oh wait, no? Okay, oh well…
I guess I'm alone.