I want to be intrigued
And need to feel desire
My future is my decision
Not my families to conspire

Life can be tough
Others try to have a say
But to satisfy others
You let your dreams go astray

Promise to yourself you will grow
In both mind and in life
In what you want to do
Not by the others hidden knife

Not displayed to you
But hidden in words and actions
Created to make a people pleaser
Out of past transactions

The life you want to create
Is yours and yours alone
Not your parents or siblings
Not your friends or past stones

They “want what's best for you”
But they lie through their teeth
They want you to be successful
And hid your passion underneath

Hidden in your mind
And hidden in your heart
Your dream of a career
That is yours to start

You are strong in life
You have more power than you think
The obstacles create your story
Your dreams are written to link

Together in trauma in pain
In passion and in love
Words and actions of others
Create a person who dreams above

Over life and its roadblocks
The mind can overcome
The strength of the person
Helps the person not succumb

Promise yourself of love
Love of your future
Want what's best for you
And not be that people pleaser

Have the courage to love
Have the courage to say no
Want what's best for your soul
And let yourself grow

Biography: My name is Kim Spurny, and my majors I am studying are data science and theatre studies. I have been writing poetry since I was in 8th grade as a way for me to express myself without others knowing. I have pages of poetry I’ve written, edited and not, but I never thought I would ever be proud enough to share my work. Yet, I took creative writing with Professor Stacey Johnson, and I realized my poetry is ready to be shared. I never believed this moment of letting my work free happen, but with the support of the Aims Loveland Campus staff I submitted my work “Promise”. I have been writing more poetry because of these incredible role models, and I am excited to finally be sharing my work. I hope that this can inspire others that their work is ready, whether for one person or more, the work deserves to be heard/read.