Comfortable Shirt Muad Ali

I get up in the morning, look into my closet and think: Which one of these shirts will help me fit in? But never which one will make me feel comfortable? Never forget my deodorant to cancel out the fumes because I’m busy adjusting myself instead of taking a moment to purify myself. And I say to myself, am I good enough? It really doesn’t matter, because others’ opinions drown mine like a fish with no air. As I hang out with my friends, I wonder if they like me? Maybe if I learn to play a sport? What if I lose weight? Or if I build muscle? No, it shouldn’t matter what they think; their insults whiplash me and I say to myself, is this what I want? No. No, it isn’t. I want to be able to have self-validation. To be able to open my closet and pick the most comfortable shirt without worrying about others’ opinions about me. BAM. My mind is made; there’s no turning back now, as I walk into the school with the earth’s weight on my shoulders, when I think to myself, is this what I want? Yes. Yes, it is. To be able to slap pain back for all it’s caused me; to be brave as a big fierce lion, not a little mouse. So now I get up in the morning, open my closet, and pick the most comfortable shirt.

Muad Ali, Grade 9 Rochester STEM Academy, Rochester Teaching Artist: Frank Sentwali