I Am What I Am
Nellie Stagg

            I am what I am. I am loud. I am funny. I am dangerously sarcastic. I am not able to control my snide remarks. I am constantly hoping that no one heard the quip I made under my breath. I am what I am. I am mischievous. I am guileful. I am manipulative. I am loved.
            I am a patriot. I am a hard-core liberal. I am Bush’s opposition. I am fed up with men in suits making decisions about a woman’s body. I am not tolerant of ignorance. I am not able to comprehend what is wrong with gay marriage. I am for free speech, but pained when forced to listen to republican “logic”. I am fed up with our government. I am 15. I am literate. I am ready to vote. I am what I am.
            I am blonde. I am not stupid. I make stupid comments; I think they’re funny. I am young, inexperienced, and innocent. I am ready to rebel, I want to misbehave, but I don’t. I am awaiting teenage angst. I am not a drinker. I do not smoke. I am the needle in the haystack. I am the minority. I am proud of my power over pressure, or at least I think I am. I am conflicted. I am stuck between the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. I am confident. I am unsure of myself. I am confused. I am a teenager.

             I am what I am. I am noticed when I enter a room. I am aware that I am loud and obnoxious; I have no issue with it.  I am either loved or hated. I will not change who I am for you. I am what I am. Take it or leave it.