An Outsider's Anthem

by Thomas Beckwith

Take the advice of Johnny Cade.

Stay gold. Grow young to old.

Take care. Stay you. Explore the world.

Leave home. Stay true. Stay you. Take care.

Stay bold. Stay gold till the end.

Image credit: Christopher Campbell on Unsplash

It doesn’t matter if you’re an outsider.

Stay gold. Stay bold. Grow old. Take care.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an outlier.

Stay gold. Stay bold. Grow old.

Stay bold. Stand tall. Grow old.

Explore the world. Leave home.

Let your light shine real bright.

Stay gold. Stay true. Stand tall.

Grow old. Stand tall. Stay bold.

Take the advice of Johnny Cade.

Let your light shine. Stay true.

Stay gold till the end. Stand tall.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an outsider.

Stay bold to the end. Stay you.

Accept the call, stand tall.

Stay gold until your light dims.

It’s okay to be an outsider.

Explore the world. Stay you.

Take Care. Stay gold.

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Thomas Beckwith

Thomas Beckwith is an Assistant Director for the University of Florida’s Office of Academic Support, where he provides support to students including academic coaching, leadership development, and holistic success planning. He also enjoys writing in his authentic voice, finding it to be a therapeutic way to process experiences and overcome past trauma.