Overachievers

[Original Post, 2012]

It’s not often that students hear themselves called “Overachievers.” Even less often do they see themselves that way. Yet that’s exactly what fifteen 6th graders from I.S. 8 in Jamaica Queens saw after completing the “I Am Now” performing arts based student leadership club at their school this year.

“I Am Now” culminated with an original song written, performed, and recorded by the students for their peers. They called the song “Overachievers,” and here’s what they wrote.

Lyrics for “Overachievers”
Written and performed by “I Am Now” students at IS 8 in Jamaica, Queens. Produced by Sound Mynd Music.

Chorus:
We’re overachievers
We’re going to be the ones that lead ya
Soon we’re going to be on your speakers
Just watch and see us
you better believe us
we’re overachievers

We’re going to be successful
Heading straight to the top
Keep on trying keep on striving
Never ever every going to stop
We don’t want to be a copy
We just want to be ourselves
Originality is our strategy this is reality
We’re making a difference
we can see the finish line in the distance
The life ahead of is the business
so come witnesses what we do

(Chorus)

You don’t have to follow the crowd
Your different so be proud
Stand up and say it loud
I know I can make it so watch me now
Just push to your dreams
Is easier than it seems
If you just believe
You can be what you wanna be
We’re making a difference
we can see the finish line in the distance
The life ahead of is the business
so come witnesses what we do

(Chorus)

Rap:

Overachievers we gonna take you high
Take you so high, take you up to the sky
The sky is the limit fit most of y’all
My limit us Pluto, y’all can stay on mars
And with these bars, we can become stars
Living our dreams yea we can go far
We can make it if we go hard
Nothing gonna stop us from being lawyers and doctors
We about to go hard like planet earth
Cause everyone one knows what education is worth
we are new light with a brand new style
So put this in your iPod and turn it up load

(Chorus)

“I Am Now” is a program partnership between 20/20 Vision for Schools and Young Life NYC, with community support from Greater Allen Cathedral, Bethel Gospel Tabernacle, Calvary Baptist Church, Sound Mynd Music, the Towles Group, and Beauty of the Heart.