I sounded so great. It sounded so clear. I knew I could do it again another year.

Sure it was tough, had to do lots of stuff, but I had to make some name for myself here.

I had to take some kind of defense in it. So listen to this: Crystle Dela Cruz, Senior Class President.

Up all night, in fear and in fright. For the next day was the speech I had to say.

Memorizing, perfectionizing, turning my words into some sort of writing.

Just one other opponent, with that “popular” component. I had my speech down, I just had to own it.

So finally, it was time. Me? Nervous out of my mind.

Other people went first, I was last on the floor. After each and every speech, I shook even more.

My opponent went up, her point was understood. Well-written, somewhat smitten. Just in general, good.

But I didn’t want good, I wanted no regret. Giving my class something they would never forget.

So motivated, I walked up there so fast. And I looked up, froze, and was stared at by my entire class.

I knew my speech in my head. But I couldn’t do it, it had to be read.

Pulling the paper from my pocket. Awesome speech no more. But I was shaking so much that my speech dropped to the floor.

A collective class sigh. Me down from my once-inspired high.

But I remembered..

This chance could not be missed. This challenge could not be dissed. I needed something to cross off my bucket list. So I took the mic off the stand and thought “Hey, I got this.”

It was the greatest speech of my life. Rhymed, perfectly timed. Some kid even asked me to be his wife.

I was hyped up for an entire week. Classmates constantly complimented on my speech.

The Friday after, the day begun. I stepped outside and smiled at the sun. Had an awesome school day filled with fun. The results were in and they told me that I …… lost.

Yup, best believe it. She won by a bit. And for a while, I felt like a piece of…. crap.

But I realized who cares? I did something no one expected. And I may sound dramatic, but my whole life was affected.

Because ever since I was little, parents noncommittal, fighting with me stuck in the middle, hoping that it’ll

Someday get better when I finally get that letter from the dream college on my sweater, on the volleyball team as setter.

So who cares if I lost the election way back when. Because it showed that myself I had to believe in.

So here I am today, Reciting this monologue that I have to say. Still hyped we won our game the other day. Realizing I choose my own fate as I may. And right here, right now, I wouldn’t have it any other way.