As this tenth grade year rolls by
I just don't have a chance to take a sigh
Life is taking me for a ride
Forcing me at every moment to abide
It seems like everyone is doing better than me
Anyone remember when life was carefree
At one time, learning was play
Not one of those agressive F1 freeways
I've never been the competitive types
Despite all the Asian stereotypes
But peace seems to be all but forgotten
The college race seems to be a race we all entered in
I see teenage achievers, wonder how they do it
They have already entered their cockpits
While I stand on the stairs, looking back at the beautiful view
Knowing in a short amount of time, boarding will soon ensue
I feel overwhelmed even though I shouldn't be
I feel overwhelmed even when there are a thousand people working harder than me
I feel overwhelmed when I look at 2018's reality
I feel overwhelmed at the idea of being handed the control key
Life was much simpler back then
I felt like I lived in a lion's den
The world seemed like a land of infinite possibilities
Now, it seems like an ever increasing stack of responsibilities
The memories are etched in my mind
My days in Rosa Parks and ICS on rewind
My life has changed so dramatically
Ever since the move in January
My life took a U-turn
My skin got scorched brown in the ruthless sun
Everything seemed to be preparation for the firing gun
Everyone except me seemed to be prepared to run
I wanted to tell my story
Let it out in all its glory
But copying from the passage was obligatory
Everything I read was explanatory
The grades passed on, yet I never really felt a change
My interests were increasingly estrange
While my peers constantly tried to grow up ASAP
I continued living life in recap
As the pressure began to build, I could feel it too
Would I be able to pull through
At times I wish I could start life anew
Maybe waste less time and make an amazing debut
I feel overwhelmed even when life is going well
My nostalgia keeps me from enjoying the present
I feel overwhelmed when I face the future
Feeling that the past was much more pleasant
I feel overwhelmed when I am reminded of my poor dad
Slogging away just to get to see us for a few months in the year
I feel overwhelmed when I see the the fate of a impoverished young lad
Forced to work out of fear
They say change is the only constant in this universe
Change has been what I repel
But now I am on my last verses
After letting it out, life has a reduced ability to overwhelm