I can't smell the roses.

It's not that I don't want to,

'cause, believe me, I've tried,

but I never get a breather.

I never get a break.

And for people to assume

that I can stop;

that's the worst thing I've ever heard.

I get it.

I don't have bills to pay.

I don't have children to take care of.

As of now, I don't have a job.

But my stress is just as important as yours.

My stress means the world to me.

My stress needs to be addressed just as much as yours,

otherwise, I'll become another statistic.

Don't you know these statistics?

Shall I break it down?

190,000 babies born to teen moms.

4,600 lives lost each year to suicide.

Maybe it would satisfy you if I just stopped;

if I just joined the 1.2 million students that dropped out of high school.

Shouldn't you know these statistics?

Well, I am a statistic.

I'm a part of the 84 percent of students graduating from high school,

the 70 percent of teens that do not have kids;

maybe it would satisfy you if I kept going.

I'm a part of the 69 percent enrolled in college,

and I will join the 60 percent graduating with a degree.

These are my statistics.

I get it.

Now I've got bills to pay.

Now I've got others to care for.

Now I have a 9 to 5 job.

And the funny thing is,

my stress didn't change.

My stress was never addressed.

What I'm starting to realize,

and what I'm beginning to understand

is that it never goes away.

My stress will always be there.

I can't smell the roses,

but maybe I should squeeze time in to do so.

Maybe I should look on the bright side of things.

Maybe I should appreciate the smaller things in life.

I can't smell the roses,

but it doesn't mean I shouldn't try.