For this kindergarten photo, I told the photographer I wanted a “serious picture.” The more he tried to make me smile, the more serious I got. And I did not like this dress. I wanted to wear my fireman’s hat, which I was usually allowed to do, since my parents weren’t really invested in any particular gender expression. I love this picture because of its emotional honesty: I’m not smiling because I don’t feel like smiling. No one was going to push me into feeling or doing something I didn’t want. This is harder to accomplish as an adult, but it’s always my goal.
