Yeah

I was scribblin’ futures in a notebook margin

While the class learned limits, I was breakin’ the margin

They said stay in your lane, I was paving the asphalt

Dream so big I had to widen the dashboard

Desk carved initials, mine carved a vision

They was worried ‘bout fitting in, I was worried ‘bout distance

How far can a kid go off instinct?

How long can a doubt last if you don’t flinch?

I ain’t have applause, I had echoes

Talking to myself like “Let’s go”

Whole room quiet when I spoke dreams

Now the quiet turn electric when the smoke clears

First draft messy but the message was clean

Ink bleeding through the page like it needed to breathe

They said rewrite it, make it easier read

I said life ain’t polished, that’s the reason it’s me

I don’t wait for approval to move

I improve while they waiting to choose

Between safe and great, they confuse

Comfort with proof

I was broke but my ideas expensive

Couldn’t pay attention ‘cause my mind was inventive

They was counting my flaws like attendance

Now they counting my wins like percentages

Funny how perspective shifts

When the same kid finally gets

What he pictured in a room

With a cracked ceiling and a loose door hinge

Pressure either fold you or forge you

I chose to turn heat into fuel

They tried to tell me tone it down

Like ambition was something you mute

Nah

I don’t edit hunger

I don’t soften drive

I don’t dim fire

Just to help doubt survive

First draft, I ain’t erase my scars

I just underlined where the lessons are

Every “no” turned footnote small

Every setback built the call

They screenshot the glow-up

But skipped the cold nights

Skipped the old mic

Skipped the low lights

Skipped the doubt sitting heavy in the chest

Skipped the moments I ain’t know what’s next

But I kept writing anyway

Even when the page felt pressed

First draft ain’t perfect

It’s urgent

It’s certain

It’s version one of a person

And I’m still adding chapters

Still raising the standard

Still taking the risk

While they wait for an answer

I don’t need a second opinion

When the vision already vivid

I was building the building

Before they knew what was in it

First draft

Still writing

Still climbing

Still finding

The final form inside it