i hated a lot of things about high school,
from the popularity contests to the drama,
to the constant lack of a girlfriend,
to the daunting task of finding friends at lunch.

i hated how i never went to a school dance,
and knew as a freshman i wouldn't go to prom.
all my old friends grew away from me,
and towards drugs and alcohol.

i hated the overwhelming crushes i'd get,
and the fact that i never had confidence in myself.
i could never be myself there,
where expectation collides with reality.

then, on my graduation night,
walking down the rows of people,
all of which i knew,
and some of which were my friends,
i thought:

i kind of like high school,
and smiled.
if only that had happened
four years earlier.