Stop.
Collect your thoughts.
Go. Go, go, go.

Study until you fall asleep
hoping you’ll pick something up
through lying on top of your science book.
Retake, and retake, and retake,
Because all of your grades have to be A’s.
A-? You’re kidding.

You can’t let your sister get too far ahead,
And you can’t let anyone else surpass you.
Stay on top of work, and keep learning.

Stop.
Collect your thoughts.
Go. Go, go, go.

Socialize and laugh,
With the people who you want to,
And the people you don’t.

What other people think is important
You have to be pretty, and nice, and smart
But not too smart, or too pretty, or too nice

Talk and fit people into your schedule,
Even when you don’t have the time
Especially when you don’t have time.

Stop.
Collect your thoughts.
Go. Go, go, go.

If you’re not pretty enough,
Watch tutorials, and practice using makeup
To cover the pimples, and tiredness.

But don’t wear too much,
because that’s trying too hard.
Because your effort is something you need to cover, too.
Because people will judge you.
And then you will judge yourself.
So try, and cover your scars.

Stop.
Collect your thoughts.
Go. Go, go, go.

Be perfect.
Be everything
Be amazing.

Don’t let yourself fall behind.
Keep up. Keep up, keep up, keep up.

The speed of now won’t wait for you.

Originally published in KidSpirit Online for The Speed of Now issue.

When she wrote this poem, Jocelyn Ruffner was almost 13 years old. She is from Yarmouth, Maine. Her hobbies cover a wide span, including reading, writing, complaining, photography, talking, soccer, pretending she’s a human, and debating. And, of course, causing general mass confusion in relation to her actions.