High Potential

"We were raised to be commodities, while being told that we were exceptional"

What happens when idealism meets expectation-and dreams of changing the world collide with corporate reality?

In this powerful debut poetry collection, the author traces the emotional arc of high achievers from the first intoxicating days of elite university programs to the sobering truths of corporate life. With lyric precision and unflinching honesty, these poems capture the starry-eyed excitement of being told you are "special," the rush of believing you will change the world, and the quiet, creeping disillusionment that follows when ambition is reshaped by bureaucracy, politics, and compromise.

Drawing on her personal journey as a senior manager in a global multinational company, the author offers an insider's perspective rarely explored in poetry: performance reviews and power dynamics, late-night doubts behind polished titles, and the emotional cost of success defined by others. Each poem stands as both confession and reflection-revealing how easily values can erode when dreams are deferred.

At once a cautionary tale and a heartfelt call to courage, this collection invites readers to pause, question, and remember who they wanted to be before the world told them who they should become.

Perfect for readers who:

• Are students or graduates navigating elite academic environments

• Feel torn between ambition, ideals, and personal values

• Work in corporate or professional settings and crave deeper meaning

• Love contemporary poetry rooted in real-world experience

Honest, resonant, and quietly rebellious, this book is a reminder that success does not have to come at the cost of the self-and that it is never too late to spread your wings and stay true to what matters most.