The Rat Race.

“Don’t give up,” they said. “I’m sprinting to nowhere,” I replied, my words echoing through the rather convoluted corridors of the teenage rat race — a marathon where nobody stops to ask where the finish line is.

Armed with backpacks and ambition, our community of “driven” teenagers plays the most absurd version of musical chairs known to man. We’re spinning ourselves dizzy in these winding circles while the music of ambition and pressure plays in the background, and we’re all unsure if we’re chasing dreams or just our own tails. It’s a hilarious spectacle of youthful energy fueled by caffeine and the belief that success is just around the next corner, yet no one seems to agree on which corner that might be. What’s amusing is we’re all ambitious mice, scurrying to get the ultimate wedge of proverbial cheese that will grant us access to the hallowed halls of a prestigious college, or an invite to that one party, or that one sash that confirms you were “Ms Popular” in your grade.

“I have more club positions than him”, “She’s invited to more parties than I am”, “My percentage is higher than hers”, the ridiculous checklist of “achievements” never stops. This mad dash towards what we deem as success is a rather trashy whirlwind (pardon my French). The thing is, success isn’t just about reaching the cheese; it’s about savouring the journey. I feel like the irony we live in is stark — while racing towards a future, we’re risking our present, and the joy of the very journey success is about. Because at the end of the day, you can win the rat race, but you’re still going to be a rat. I refuse to succumb to the life of a rat, and if you’re reading this, you should too. Winning the teenage rat race isn’t about racing to the cheese; it’s about leaving a trail of laughter, confetti, and bewildering stories you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Run your own race because, more often than not, the cheese everyone’s chasing is part of a trap. Embrace the chaos, acknowledge the beauty in the journey’s unpredictability, and remember, that the most beautiful destinations are often found in unexpected detours.