𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗬: Life’s Young Weightlifter by Yannah Descalso

Published by: Jadelynn Arnigo

Date Published: July 28, 2025

Time Published: 8:24 AM

Category: Prose

Theme: The unseen weight students carry.

"𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥."

That was the mantra. The creed she grew up reciting like it was gospel. A promise repeated until it sounded like truth.

As if life were fair.

As if the path were straight and certain.

As if her effort alone could tip the scale.

She wasn’t just learning. She was enduring.

Enduring the weight of expectations she never asked for.

Enduring the pressure to be strong when she was barely holding on.

Enduring the ache of being seen only when she succeeds.

She was tired. Not just tired in the way students complain about school, but the kind of tired that stayed even after sleeping. The kind that made her wonder if this grind was ever meant for someone like her.

No one asked if she was okay. They only asked for effort. For results. For her to act like everything was fine.

She tried to believe that studying would save her. That hard work would open doors. But some days, it felt like she was born with weights others never had to lift.

Still, she kept going—wearing her uniform over the weight she carried. Because she had to. Because she was expected to. And no one asked what it cost.

All they saw was a student.

But she was carrying too much, too young. And every time they told her to study harder, they forgot—she already was.