Emily DuBose, Senior English major from Austin, TX.
Perfection is a problem because I can’t seem
to do anything without making it exactly right.
So I sit, sweating, stuck in stress, only in my dreams
can I do anything half-assed. When I write,
my hand cramps, ink on my palms and pain
in my joints. But at least the letters look nice.
When I work, my reports must be free of stain,
free of blemish, shining white, ever so precise.
Glowing reviews are the only goal; they save
me, tell me I’m worth it, that I belong, make me believe
that I can save the world with the work of one day.
When I see the soft, dark purple skin under my eyes, I’m relieved.