Normally I try to keep my personal life (at least the heavy stuff) out of my column. But the recent spate of suicides and bullying incidents compels me to tell a rather personal story in an effort to change the way people think.
While my childhood was a good one, it wasn’t always an easy one. I wasn’t the most masculine kid, and being the son of a super-macho Army officer made me feel even more awkward. As is the case with bullies everywhere, there were always kids that could sniff out my insecurities and I got bullied--a lot. Somewhere out there, there’s a kid like the one I used to be: scared, feeling isolated and alone, and more than a little confused. I was one of those kids afraid I’d never find my place in this world, but things eventually got better. I eventually realized that I, too, am a child of God and that I deserve respect and happiness. When I look back at that difficult time, that’s what I want for others going through it too: to realize their own worth.
Don’t make a permanent decision based on temporary pain. Give yourself time to become the person you were meant to be; give the world time to understand just what an incredible person you are. But most important is staying true to who you are. No one has the right to make you feel like a lesser person because of superficial characteristics. And they can only do that when you give them permission to make you feel bad about who you are.
To all the geeks, outcasts, nerds, fems, and outsiders: hold your head high, stay strong, and remember that it gets better.
p.s., click on the title of this blog post to be connected to The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention site aimed at helping teens realize that it gets better.
