I was always some version of different as a child: different as in smart, different as in social, different as in gay. I rehearsed Michael Jackson dance routines at age four and memorized a graduate microbiology textbook at age five. I knew I was gay at age twelve, though my peers had been letting me know long before that. My dad understood how hard things were in high school, and he added thirty minutes to his commute each morning to take me to school, so I wouldn’t have to ride the bus. To avoid the bullies, I walked from class to class outside and picked seats near the exits.
You must be your own advocate. Whatever pain or disillusionment you experience must be redirected, or it will weigh you down. Be fiercely loyal to your friends, and never let someone project their inadequacies onto you. Love unconditionally and try to be kind.
