Being Understood Poem by RoseAnn V. Shawiak

Dare to be smart, don't be afraid to be above the crowd,
take your place in line with great thinkers and movers
of this earth.

There is no shame in being smart, don't let others do
that to you, learn that pretending you're not smart is
not a good thing.

Not trying, making average grades instead of being on
the honor roll, becoming very shy and socially back-
ward, feeling like an outsider, ashamed of who you are.

Feeling like you don't belong anywhere, taking years
to break out of that childhood mold you've made when
too young to realize what you were doing.

Writing about it, taking steps to be who you are, no
longer hiding your talent and abilities anymore, just
being yourself, finding others like yourself.

Talking, learning from one another, actually being
understood for the first time in your life, quite an
exhilarating feeling when letting oneself just BE.