It’s just I don’t even know where to start
- greenspringreviews
- Dec 3, 2019
- 1 min read
Jen Steward
Should my hands be shaking?
Is it stress, or am I overthinking?
Honestly, it's probably both.
It's hard to stop.
I'm told not to stress about the future.
But I'm also told to have a game plan.
It's fine to take an extra semester.
But it's the only shot I have left.
Failure in this case is not an option.
I'm aware my actions have consequences.
I don't like to dwell on it too much.
I want things to stop for a moment.
I want time, time to figure myself out.
Part of me wants to help, but
the other part has given up.
It’s a battle you can’t win.
Medication and therapy are necessary
To make sure I’m somewhat sane
However, medication can only do so much
And therapy requires participation.
The amount of times I have been lectured
About my inability to not put in effort
Is a lot more than I would like to admit.
I hate disappointing people
I don't have time to make any more mistakes
Which is terrifying and unnerving.
After failing my fourth class,
I knew I was screwed.
People only want to help, I see that.
My brain has repressed so much,
That I have no idea where to even start.
I try to numb it all, push it away.
It's worked for a long time,
but now I need to face them.
Easier said than done,
But it needs to happen.
It's just I don't even know where to start.




You did a good job keeping the poem straightforward and simple in a way that makes it clear and easy to imagine what you are going through with school in this writing. You very effectively capture the many feeling of being overwhelmed with the imagery of your hands shaking and the lines about you being nearly doomed from all of the mistakes you have made. I especially liked the line about you wanting time to stop so you can figure yourself out because time does feel like it moves way too fast in college from being so busy. I can relate to being overwhelmed with school and just not being able to focus on schoolwork even though I have to.…