The Boy I Was, The Man I Am

 

                                                           

When I was a boy,

I was told not to cry,

Because I was taught,

"Boys don’t cry."

I learned to control my emotions,

Never letting my tears flow down my cheeks.

As a teen, I faced intrusive thoughts

That held me back in my studies.

I was teased and bullied by schoolmates,

While teachers discriminated and insulted me for my marks.

Each word and action

Carved a scar deep in my heart.

When I became a young adult,

I felt the ache, the tender sting,

In quiet places where changes cling.

I woke at night, my sheets turned cold,

A mystery unraveled, still untold.

I felt the throb, the unfamiliar strain,

A silent turmoil, a nameless pain.

I walked this path, unknown and bare,

Through fleeting shame and courage rare.

I faced the nights and dreams that fell,

Through aches and growth, I stood well.

For in this pain, a truth I’d see—

The boy I was, becoming me.

I graduated,

Relished my academic years,

Fulfilling half my dreams—

Not just mine, but my parents’ too.

But this was not the conclusion,

There’s more to learn, more to do.

I sacrificed my sleep and my enjoyment,

Committed to my dreams so I could stand

On my own two feet.

I strive to see the best version of myself,

To share it with the future me and my parents,

Hoping one day, all my dreams come true.

Life is a short journey for every boy,

But within that short story lies a deep meaning.

There’s more to experience, more to feel,

More to see, and much further to go...

Dedicating this poem to every gentleman— To the silent warriors, the dreamers, and the achievers, who walk through life with resilience and grace, transforming challenges into strength, and pain into purpose.