Written by Ayokunle Adedipe
Don’t be good Brooklyn, Be great!
– Jay Z- Live in Brooklyn(Young Forever)
This was written on a random day, when boredom set in. i began to think of my life and actually examine it in every aspect. there are sometimes when we don’t feel we are meant to be where we are. there are times when we question the norms of this world and just want to stand out. i wrote this to just let anyone who is feeling that way or who is in my shoes to know they are not alone. so enjoy and please drop your comments below.
Uniqueness is what makes us human. Our different personalities make us who we are. Growing up to see and experience life has been tough. We have made mistakes and regretted some actions; we have wanted to take back our decisions and have decided to move on from people in our lives.
I always wished I was not African. I wished I was from a different country so I wouldn’t have to live my life so stereotype: the same triangle every single day. It’s not like I’m not proud of being black or being African but to be truthful, the thought lingers in my head sometimes and I’m not the only one. I always wanted to travel the world with people I love: I want to go to Paris and see the Eiffel tower. I want to go to Italy and Venice and Florence and see the beauty of art. I want to go to Australia and see experience a new lifestyle. I want to go sky diving and water skiing and scream like the whole world can hear me. I want a whole new life of adventure and just forgetting your worries. No worries about exams or mid semester tests, no worries about the crush you like that doesn’t like you back, no worries about your girlfriends gossiping about you or anyone backstabbing you.
All people care about now is what others think of them; they give up on themselves and forget who they really are. They put on a false appearance of confidence and keep leading themselves to deceit. Why can’t be ourselves and just put what others think behind us. We cover our uniqueness with being stereotype {doing what everyone else is doing}. I want to stand out, I want to be different, and I want to be great. In spite of where I come from, I want to be known like every other successful person on this planet. I don’t want to just die and not live anything behind. It is called legacy: I don’t just want to come and pass through this world like every other person. I believe I am different, deep down inside me, I know I have the capability to do so many great things. I believe in myself even if others don’t believe in me.
People just read my poems and just think I am dreaming some just look at it and think for a while then keep doing what they do. My stories and poems are the only way I can communicate with people. And only a few can understand. Some don’t even see why a medical student should be writing, some believe I should just read and get a degree and then find someone to marry and get a good job then have kids. That’s part of the myopia of where I live in, the shortsightedness people have: Why people can’t see the bigger picture. Why people don’t believe in change. Why people eventually end up being feminists.
I am not going to just marry, get a job in a hospital and have kids then grow old and die. I am going to be more than that. I know it will happen one day even if I have to wait till I’m done with school. I am going to be forever young with my soul evergreen and longing for success and knowledge and wisdom. I won’t be 50 and brain dead. I will be 50 and more alive than ever. I know people will antagonize me, I know I will lose friends; I know it’s going to be tough. Nothing good comes easy. I have faith and like Martin Luther king jr said: I have a dream……
