When I was 9 I wanted to be a detective,

I wanted to solve crime before dinnertime,

But that turned into turmoil,

Because I didn’t want to work overtime

At 12, my mother convinced me to be a pharmacist,

But I had to cross that 1 off my list,

When I found out how much science is involved.

At 14 I wanted to be a writer

I wanted to seal my heart into words

Package it in books and sell them off to the best publishers out there

I had even started writing my novel

But then I found a new passion

At 15, I wanted to drop out of school and become a graffiti artist

I wanted to express myself with spray paint,

Writing words of wisdom on walls,

Adding color to a black and white city,

To make it look pretty.

I wanted to do the impossible, the indescribable: I wanted my art to inspire

But then I turned 17, and I couldn’t possible become a:

Detective/pharmacist/writer/graffiti artist that dropped out of school

At 17, I had bigger ambitions; I wanted to change the world.

Change the world with my words.

I wanted to bring peace to humanity.

I wanted to use my creativity and positivity to bring peace.

But I knew I couldn’t do it all at once.

Now close to 18, I finally know in my heart what I’m going to be.

It only took three teachers to inspire me.

I’m going to become a teacher

Quite possibly the best teacher I can be.

I realized kids need to be guided through more than math equations

And grammar questions

They need to see a world beyond the classroom.

They need to understand that they aren’t alone.

Someone’s got to have their back

Be their support system when they fall.

I’ll be there to hold their heads up,

When they have nobody to hold it at home

I’ll look into their eyes, and tell them I’ve been there.

And if I haven’t, I sure as hell will help them through it.

I’ll introduce them to poetry, and the love shown in words.

I’ll help them escape in stories, so they can be away from reality for a while

I want them to know that all this is worthwhile,

It’s a beautiful world; you just have to look in the right places

So at almost 18, here I stand

Having decided destiny

I have decided to change the world

Show peace through poetry,

And teach.

But I’m going to do it one step at a time.

This chapter of my life might be ending,

But a new one is just beginning.

And I can’t wait to turn the page.