You see the grades on the fridge. The math one, the English one. But you don’t see the report card I carry around in my chest. The one that says I’m losing points in 'Sleep' and getting marked down in 'Feeling like I belong.'

A teen is talking to a parent, teacher, or mentor who just asked, "How are you really doing?"

The Invisible Report Card

"You want to know how I’m doing? Okay. Fine. Here it is.

I’m not trying to be dramatic. I’m just saying... I’m tired of being graded on the things that don’t matter. And left alone with the things that do.