I used to dream to be as tall as my mom

Gazing up at her as though she grazed the sky 

I used to dream of my four years at high school

What amazing, life-altering, years they would be

I even used to dream of homework

Wanting to be like the big kids who had responsibility 

I now tower over my mother

So tall that my chin falls to the top of her head as we hug

My height is one of my favorite things about myself 

I am now a senior

High school has just about passed by

And let me just say, everything about these years felt amazing and life-altering

Yet high school had nothing to do with that

Oh and homework,

Does anyone actually do it anymore?

I spent years growing expectations and feeding beliefs

I’ve lived adolescence hoping and wishing and dreaming

Believing life would save the most amazing things just for me

I may had been a bit entitled looking back on it

Yet I was not wrong

I mean I was wrong

About high school and homework 

Yet I do believe this life held some of the greatest moments just for me

As of December 5, 2021, I am an adult

It’s always confused me 

The sudden shift, within the span of 24 hours, my transformation from child to adult

Able to move out

To vote 

To fight for my country

To change my name

As of January 18, 2022

I am now Baily Randall

No, I did not get married 

If you look in our local newspaper on the Monday of each week

You will see a petition for adult name change 

From Ms. Plourde

To Ms. Randall

“Why?” you ask?

Well that’s personal

Long story short,

This is me recognizing a love stronger than blood 

Finally forging the outcome I desire,

Since apparently I can’t hope and wish and dream my future away

I now realize that I never cared to be a certain height

It was more about wanting to carry my mom’s strength and power

I find it so special that I was so young 

Yet noticing her uniquely compelling force seemed to be a given

Finding my own power through my 18 years of childhood 

Allowed dominant and commanding strength within me

To forge my future and create my own destiny,

Whatever that is