As I stood basking not only in the early coolness of winter but also in my freedom, I couldn’t help but feel a certain lack of elation. While freedom caressed every single one of my cells, I couldn’t help but feel powerless. I was a slave to another powerful master; expectation. On the surface, I appeared to have everything. Young, amongst my peers at a prestigious educational institution with the future beckoning. And yet anxiety had its powerful hands around my throat and was squeezing gently.
For now. Expectation had bid anxiety to do its dirty work. Alone in my unshackled youth and all I could think of was not to disappoint my parents. Ultra-important standards and grades needed to be maintained. Stress levels bobbed and bounced like an equaliser gyrating to the latest Kendrick Lamar release. Never to be completely silenced. While stress, like the wind, is a part of everyday life, we need to fight back and learn to cope. I threw my knapsack into the car and streamed into the flow of the night.
