This photo shows a boy who just won’t stop being happy. It shows I have a spirit that refuses to quit. Growing up, one of the biggest challenges for me was asserting my individuality. After a long, drawn-out process, I finally came out to myself in college. I realized I needed to be far away from home to really become my true self. Coming out to my family was incredibly painful. It was the early ’80s, and my father said he wouldn’t even drink out of the same glass as me because I’m gay. He’s mellowed a bit since then, but we aren’t very close. I wish we were closer. Somehow, I’ve been able to keep seeing that happy kid inside myself, and that has kept me going.