What My Future Holds

I don't think

I'm ready for it to be over

25 years old

And still not ready for the real world.

All these years 

And I still don't feel prepared

I don't think it's possible

To learn everything you need in school.

I feel all of this crushing weight

All these expectations

Everyone looking at me thinking,

"All these years of school

What do you have to show for it?"

Indebted for life

And the last thing I want

Is to go home.

I once heard it described as

"The place where people's dreams die"

I'm worried that all of this has been for nothing

All this time

All this money

And I'm still going to end up in a factory

Mold open, mold close

Remove the part and stack it.

My future as an automaton

Repeating the same task

Day after day

Until I break down

My creaking bones

Are squeaking joints

My end of arm tools

Swollen with arthritis

Deep in my memory flashes

"Follow your dreams."