An ode to future AP students

It starts out as a thought 
Curiosity then controls
A Sense of wondrous images 
Flicker between the electric wires of my brain 
Buzzing of emotions 
Like drinking a fresh glass of, 
nervousness and excitement. 
It's the first day 
You're surrounded by familiar faces and sounds,
girls screeching --as if they didn’t just see each other. 
Guys hugging but you know-- discreetly  
because it isn't very "manly", so they say 
Teachers are filled with welcomes and smiles 
"This class is college level" they say 
"No slacking, college's don't accept slackers" they say 
I just thought it was a scare tactic 
I took it lightly 

First Quarter is here 

this is where the unfamiliarity occurs 
mystifying words 
letters, numbers, lines, shapes jumbled up together 
You'll actually think you've gone dyslexic at one point. 
Oh yeah, 
DO NOT FEAR THE PRETEST 
I REPEAT for emphasis 
DO NOT FEAR THE PRETEST 
you'll get the concept...eventually...maybe.

Second and Third Quarters mosey on by 
In other words, "The Fuzzy stages",  
a big blur if you ask me 
This period is like you're sophomore and junior years 
or like being the middle child, 
they're  kind of just there 
Time passes quicker then it may seem 
Priorities are chosen wisely 
It's like choosing a Pokemon to battle in your dual, 
which one will get you to the top,  
which priority will get you to become the next Pokemon Master ? 
Yeah I know one of the most important classes in your High School career 
and I'm relating it to Pokemon. 
Because although it may seem like you've just started these, 
so called Fuzzy Stages, 
They are the body of our knowledge  
The plot of our story 
we ask ourselves what really happened in these 2 quarters, 
and no one really knows 
but all you do know is that thought is now viewed in depth 
BUT you're still kind of iffy about that ghastly exam in May. 

Now it is fourth quarter, 
Yeah I know. 
It passes like the period of this poem, you don’t really know how to describe the length of it. 
The dreadful date, May (enter date here) gets closer and closer. 
The walls of your inner thoughts seem to be closing in on you 
Overwhelmed, Intimidated. 
Words zoomed passed your mind a mile a minute, 
Am I ready for this? Is it even worth taking the exam? I'm not smarter than so and so. Gosh three hours sounds like a long time. What if this entire year of taking this class is just a waste of my time? 
THIS is where the uncontrollable thoughts start to take over. 
Comparing yourself to someone else, 
Not the best thing to do. It's pretty ignorant if you ask me. 
Self-encouragement is lost and no where to be found. 
No type of pride in your own work 
Accepting the fact that you probably aren't the best. 
THESE are the words I thought to myself every time I walked through the doors of my AP Classes 
Because there's always someone better. 
Don't do it. 
The disbelief in one's self because of the public system literally telling us you're not as smart as someone else. 
How is one not intimidated after that? 
It doesn't matter in the end. 
Hard work pays off 
If you truly believe that you're good enough, don't let the words of doubt control you. 
You are your own person and if you want to challenge yourself, 
I say go for it.                                        -Dua Kheiry