Time Machine...

wHen i wAs A Kid i wAtcHed sesAMe sTЯeeT
i LeAЯNed My ABcs, And My 123s
i wAtcHed cAЯTooNs And coLoЯed iN BooKs
i pLAyed oUTside ANd NeVeЯ cooKed
i wAs ALwAys HAppy uNLess i spiLT My cup
buT LooKiNg At tHe big Kids, i wANted to gЯow up

Wh3n I waz a t33n, I tYp3d lyk3 di$
Updatin mah Xanga, mah mYspac3 n $hit
I dr0pp3d cu$$ w0rd$ cuz it waz tyt3
ruNNin ar0und thinkin th3r3 aint m0r3 2 lyf3
I drank wit da h0miez, g0ssip3d n ly3d
but it waz tim3 t0 gr0w up m0r3. mah maturity cant hid3

Now as an adult, I feel much more free
Living day by day, being as responsible as I can be
I spend my time working, studying, and passing the time with my friends
I now love and respect my parents and thank them for their discipline
It's quite funny looking back into time
Realizing now just how much I've grown up. I'm now in my prime
I've been through so much and I'm thankful for all of my days
There's just so much to live for. I love living this way

Being a child was fun and innocent
Believing that a Happy Meal and some candy was the best of it
I was climbing trees and riding my bike
Laying on the grass, looking at the clouds, while eating MikeNIkes
I threw little fits when I didn't get what I want
I hid under the bed when I got in trouble with my Mom
I looked at the kids who were older, and I wondered what it was like
To have lockers, books... a big kids life

As a teenager, I was rude and rebellious
I constantly talked s**t about others, and I was cool with it
I thought acting like so would make me seem older
However, slowly but surely, my heart grew colder
I obsessed over stupid things like popularity
I thought being the trouble maker would get people to like me
Then in high school, I found myself lost
No longer sure what kind of friends I got
So I cleaned up my act and found better company
I got to be myself. No more lying. I'm free

Now that I'm here, ending my fourth year
I can see clear and I no longer have fear
I am who I am. I'm no longer holding back
The friends I got now are family. That's a fact
I don't feel like I have to wear a mask anymore
Because even when I do something stupid, we all end up laughing on the floor
I'm more comfortable now. I can now say that I'm a confident being
I'm glad I finally dropped the immaturity and this new life has got me seeing
Be who you are. Don't change a single thing
The friends who matter will stay. The ones who don't, end up leaving
I've been alive now for nearly 22 years but I still got much to learn
I'm proud of my accomplishments and what I have earned
So this is me saying, Be the best you can be and live your life day by day
Keep a clear heart, work hard, live, laugh, love. Do all this, everyday.

-Annie Tran

(March 18, 2010)